Afghan's Karzai to push for Indian military aid

Afghan President Hamid Karzai will try and secure more military aid in talks with Indian leaders on Tuesday as he looks to beef up his security forces after international troops pull out next year.

Karzai is to hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee after accepting an honorary degree on Monday night from the Lovely Professional University in the northern state of Punjab.

India has provided billions of dollars in aid to Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, and is keen to ensure that no radical Islamist regime takes power in Kabul after US and other foreign forces leave in 2014.

According to his spokesman, Aimal Faizi, Karzai will ask for "all kinds of assistance from India in order to strengthen our military and security institutions" during his talks in the capital New Delhi.

An Indian foreign ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said discussions would cover a potential arms deal between the two countries.

"India is ready to meet any request that would strengthen Afghan security institutions," said the official. "He (Karzai) is visiting India to discuss a potential arms deal."

India has been training a limited number of Afghan military officers for years at its military institutions, but has provided little weapons assistance except for some vehicles.

Any Indian activity in Afghanistan is known to trigger unease in neighbouring rival Pakistan, which fears losing influence in Afghanistan.

The former Taliban regime was allied with Pakistan and gave refuge to virulently anti-Indian Islamic extremists.

India has been notably cool about US-backed attempts to negotiate a peace settlement with Taliban elements.

Speaking on a visit to Washington in February, Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said that New Delhi sees little "dividing line" between Al-Qaeda and other militants.

He doubted that "these groups and those who support them have either had an epiphany or made a real strategic reassessment of their objectives."

Earlier this month, Afghanistan's ambassador to India said the country needs India's help with equipment and weapons and was hoping to boost defence ties.

In 2011 India and Afghanistan began a "strategic partnership" aimed at deepening security and economic links.

Karzai is a regular visitor to India and spent time as a student in the northern resort city of Shimla.

He was last in New Delhi in November when he tried to persuade Indian business leaders that Afghanistan was ripe for investment, promising them a "red carpet welcome".

 

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