Afghan Army Chief Gen Ahmadzai expected to visit India next week
PTI, Jul 20, 2021, 1:53 PM IST
New Delhi: Afghan Army Chief General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai is expected to pay a three-day crucial visit to India from July 27 to explore boosting bilateral military ties in the face of the Taliban making sweeping offensive across Afghanistan following the withdrawal of foreign forces, people familiar with the development said on Tuesday.
General Ahmadzai is scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks with the top Indian military brass including his counterpart General MM Naravane and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, they said.
”The Afghan Army Chief is scheduled to arrive in India on July 27 for a three-day visit. He is scheduled to return in the first half of July 30. Strengthening defence cooperation will be the focus of the visit,” said one of the persons.
Afghanistan has been reaching out to its key allies in seeking support to strengthen its security forces in the backdrop of the Taliban resorting to widespread violence to expand its influence across the country after the US began withdrawing troops from May 1.
In the last few years, India has provided at least five military helicopters to the war-ravaged country which has been trying to strengthen its air power.
Afghanistan has also been seeking India’s assistance in making functional Soviet-era helicopters and transport aircraft that were not in flying condition.
The country has been struggling to get spare parts for aircraft and helicopters due to economic sanctions against Moscow.
Last month President Ashraf Ghani appointed General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai as the new chief of army staff, replacing General Yasin Zia.
It is learnt that General Ahmadzai is likely to seek supply of military hardware from India to enhance the combat capability of his forces.
The Afghan Army chief’s visit to India also comes in the midst of increasing strain in Kabul’s ties with Islamabad following the brief kidnapping of the daughter of Afghanistan’s ambassador to Pakistan.
Following the incident, the Afghanistan foreign ministry said it was recalling the ambassador and other senior diplomats until all security threats are removed.
In an address at a connectivity conference in Tashkent on Friday, President Ghani hit out at Pakistan for the influx of foreign terrorists into Afghanistan and failing to do enough to influence the Taliban to seriously engage in the peace talks.
”Intelligence estimates indicate the influx of over 10,000 jihadi fighters (into Afghanistan) from Pakistan and other places in the last month,” Ghani said at the conference in the presence of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and several other leaders.
India has been a major stakeholder in the peace and stability of Afghanistan. It has already invested nearly USD 3 billion in aid and reconstruction activities in the country.
India has been supporting a national peace and reconciliation process which is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Can’t control elections or pass directions on basis of suspicion: SC tells EVM critics
Not shying away from dealing with stray dogs issue but will not allow scope to be expanded, says SC
Delhi: Man standing atop truck dies after his head hits metro station beam
Bullet train project completion date rests on award of all tenders, says Railways in RTI reply
What ‘nyay’ Cong can do, when its councillor’s daughter in K’taka doesn’t get justice: Thakur
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
WATCH: 5 runaway military horses cause mayhem in London
FIR filed over BJP’s social media post allegedly promoting hatred and enmity: EC
Can’t control elections or pass directions on basis of suspicion: SC tells EVM critics
Amitabh Bachchan receives Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar
Hubballi: Congress leader Randeep Surjewala visits Neha’s house, assures justice to family