India, Afghanistan to boost defence coop

India and Afghanistan have agreed to expand defence cooperation which may include deployment of Indian trainers in Afghanistan. According to reports reaching here from New Delhi India offered its “willingness to Afghanistan to help it build capabilities of its security forces in accordance with their priority.”

The commitment was reportedly conveyed by Indian Defence Minister A K Antony to his Afghan counterpart General Abdul Rahim Wardak when they met in New Delhi on Wednesday during a four day visit.

The two sides also discussed “security situation in the region” and possible joint cooperation against Afghan Taliban.

General Abdul Rahim Wardak heading a seven-member Afghan military delegation arrived in India two days earlier amid reports that a foreign power had given a tacit-approval for expanded Indo-Afghan military engagements.

Gen Wardak was quoted as saying: “We will welcome any cooperation (from India) in the field of training and helping of Afghan national security forces so that they are able to secure and defend the country.”

India and NATO-backed Afghan Government has held several military exchange since General Wardak last visited India in April, 2008 and Afghan Chief of General Staff, General Sher Mohammad Karimi visited India in October last year.