M A I N   N E W S

Afghanistan to seek military aid from India

Kabul, May 19
Afghan President Hamid Karzai will seek increased military aid from India during a three-day visit starting tomorrow and discuss recent cross-border clashes with Pakistan, an aide said.

“Yes, we will ask for assistance for the strengthening of our security forces,” Karzai spokesperson Aimal Faizi said in a briefing on Saturday ahead of the visit.

Karzai’s visit could irk Pakistan, especially if any arms deal materialises. Pakistan considers Afghanistan its own backyard and suspects India of seeking greater influence there as a strategy to hem in the country from both sides.

Afghanistan and India signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2011 that has included Indian military training of Afghan security forces.

Faizi indicated yesterday that Karzai would seek to expand that cooperation. “Whatever our Afghan security forces would need for assistance and help, India would help us,” he said.

Afghan analyst Wadir Safi, a political science professor at Kabul University, says the timing of Karzai’s India visit is likely related to recent border skirmishes with Pakistan.

Each side has been accusing the other of firing across the mountainous border region for months, including a skirmish earlier this month that killed an Afghan border policeman.

Both countries have also accused each other of providing shelter for insurgents fighting on the other side of the border. Afghan accusations that Pakistan is allegedly trying to torpedo efforts to start peace talks with the Taliban have also contributed to deteriorating relations.

Pakistan is considered crucial to nudging Taliban leaders, many of which are in hiding in Pakistan, to the table - a key goal of the US and its allies ahead of the final pullout of foreign combat forces by the end of next year.

Karzai has long been deeply suspicious of the motives of the Pakistan government and military, which backed the Taliban regime before it was toppled in the 2001 US-led intervention and has since seemed unable or unwilling to go after militant leaders taking refuge inside its borders.

“Maybe at this moment, Karzai wants to show to the neighbour (Pakistan) that if they don’t take part in bringing peace in Afghanistan, then he can increase relations with other countries with whom Pakistan has long-time disagreements,” Safi said.

Aside from regional strategic rivalries, Karzai is expected to discuss economic issues and will visit an engineering university where he will receive an honorary degree, Faizi said.

India has invested more than $ 2 billion in Afghan infrastructure, including highways and hospitals and rural electricity projects. — AP