Indian team in Kabul to discuss ties
New Delhi: Days after Indian external affairs minister Salman Khurshid rejected Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s request for lethal weapons, a team of military and civilian officials landed in Afghanistan to discuss equipment supplies and to thrash out ways and means to enhance co-operation in the field of defence.
Official sources in the foreign ministry, when asked about Khurshid’s remarks that India was not “either in a position or willing “ to supply lethal weapons at his point, said, “as a follow up to prime minister’s discussions with President Karzai, a joint defence ministry and MEA delegation consisting of civilian and military officials is in Kabul to discuss all aspects regarding equipment supplies and is looking to enhance cooperation in this area.”
Karzai, during his recent visit to India had submitted a “wish list” seeking greater military and civilian support from India after the proposed withdrawal of US from Afghanistan in 2014.
Khurshid told later that, “We are going to help with non-lethal equipment but I don’t think we are either in the position to or willing to contribute lethal weapons right now.” He also added, “If we can help Afghanistan without creating further problems for them, I think that would be a preferred way to do it.”
Delhi responDS to Karzai’s wish list
* Afghan President Kamid Karzai, during his recent visit to India had submitted a “wish list” seeking greater military and civilian support from India after the proposed withdrawal of US from Afghanistan in 2014.
However external affairs minister Salman Khurshid later said, “We are going to help with non-lethal equipment but I don’t think we are either in the position to or willing to contribute lethal weapons right now.” He also added, “If we can help Afghanistan without creating further problems for them, I think that would be a preferred way to do it.”
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