About:
- Under a tripartite agreement, India has agreed to purchase the attack helicopters from Belarus and supply them to Afghanistan.
- Earlier, India had gifted four Mi-24 attack helicopters drawn from the inventory of the Indian Air Force and three Cheetal utility helicopters manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Comment on bilateral defence relations:
- According to a US Congressional report on Afghanistan published this month, India has been the largest regional contributor to Afghan reconstruction but has not shown an inclination to pursue a deeper defence relationship with Afghanistan.
- US President Donald Trump in his South Asia speech in 2017 encouraged India to play a greater role in Afghanistan's economic development. He, however, never requested any active military assistance from India.
- Neither has Afghanistan ever asked for active military support. They have requested for military assistance in terms of training and equipment but never for Indian Forces or Troops in Afghanistan.
- While Active Military Support in the form of sending troops to Afghanistan by India might seem Strategically Desirable, it is also Logistically Challenging and Tactically it may be a Nightmare initially.
- Thus other Forms of Military Assistance can be provided by India in the following ways :-
- Supply of more lethal equipment.
- Training of a Special Forces Brigade of Afghanistan.
- Training for Afghan Army doctors and medics in the field.
- Training of Afghan Women Police.
- Increased cooperation in intelligence sharing.
- Maintenance of off-road Russian equipment for both Afghan Army and Air Force.
