‘No Indian boots on the ground in Afghanistan’

NEW DELHI: India will not deploy troops in Afghanistan, its defence minister said Tuesday, but promised to boost support for a new US strategy in the war-torn country, reports AFP.

After talks with US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Nirmala Sitharaman said India was prepared to increase training for Afghan personnel and develop infrastructure such as schools and hospitals.

"India's contribution has been on these counts and we shall expand if necessary," she told a news conference with Mattis.

"However as we have made it very clear, there should not be boots from India on the ground."

Mattis' trip to India is the first by any member of President Donald Trump's cabinet. It comes just after Trump unveiled a new Afghanistan strategy and urged New Delhi to help.

"We applaud India's invaluable contributions to Afghanistan and welcome further efforts to promote Afghanistan's democracy, stability and security," Mattis said.

 

No Indian boots on the ground in Afghanistan

NEW DELHI: India will not deploy troops in Afghanistan, its defence minister said Tuesday, but promised to boost support for a new US strategy in the war-torn country, reports AFP. After talks with US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Nirmala Sitharaman said India was prepared to increase training for Afghan personnel and develop infrastructure such as schools and hospitals. Indias contribution has been on these counts and we shall expand if necessary, she told a news conference with Mattis. However as we have made it very clear, there should not be boots from India on the ground. Mattis trip to India is the first by any member of President Donald Trumps cabinet. It comes just after Trump unveiled a new Afghanistan strategy and urged New Delhi to help. We applaud Indias invaluable contributions to Afghanistan and welcome further efforts to promote Afghanistans democracy, stability and security, Mattis said.