ITBP seeks upgrading command level in Afghanistan

The ITBP has sought upragdation in the command-level of its troops posted to secure India's diplomatic missions in Afghanistan which face continuous terror threat and have been attacked a number of times in the past.

The demand was made by the force during a review meeting of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) here in the Home Ministry under the chairmanship of Home Minister Rajnath Singh, officials said.

They said the paramilitary force wants to post senior officers in the rank of commandant and deputy commandant at these missions to enhance the overall security and response efficiency of the security units.

"At present, the ITBP units in Afghanistan are commanded by assistant commandant- or inspector-rank officers. The force wants to send senior officers who are much more experienced and can act with clairvoyance under challenging situations that come across in that country. The Home Ministry is expected to give its nod in this regard," they said.

The ITBP guards the Indian Embassy in Kabul and its four Consulates in Jalalabad, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar and Herat.

A Home Ministry statement said during the meeting, issues that cropped up include the ITBP's strength at border outposts, construction and upgradation of helipads, additional air courier services for the force and subjects relating to housing, health and education facilities for the force personnel.

A presentation was also made with regard to various requirements of the mountain-trained force by ITBP Director General Krishna Chaudhary even as he informed that the cadre management and other issues of the force will be further improved.

Officials said the force also requested that its personnel could be considered to be a accorded a special high-altitude medal given the ITBP's deployment in upper reaches of the Himalayas along the Sino-India frontier.

The statement said that Singh asked ministry officials to extend necessary assistance to the ITBP for welfare of the jawans and their families and provide them with training and better equipments.

The 80,000-personnel strong force was raised in the aftermath of the 1962 Chinese aggression and is primarily tasked to secure the 3,488-km-long China frontier apart from rendering a variety of roles in the internal security domain of the country.