Indian officials in Kabul to discuss enhanced military links

A team of Indian officials is in Kabul to hold talks on enhanced military cooperation between India and Afghanistan, which was sought by Afghan President Hamid Karzai during his visit here in May.

A team of civil and military officials is in Afghanistan for talks on enhanced cooperation in equipment supplies, informed sources told IANS.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, in an interview with Straits Times last week, had said India would help Afghanistan with non-lethal equipment. "I don't think we are either in the position to or willing to contribute lethal weapons right now," he had said,

In May, ahead of Karzai's visit, Afghan ambassador Shaida M. Abdali had urged enhanced defence ties with India, including the supply of lethal and non-lethal military equipment.

India has said it was ready to discuss and consider Afghanistan's request for arms supplies provided it is raised through the proper fora.

India and Afghanistan have a Strategic Partnership Agreement, inked in 2011, under which they have a Strategic Partnership Council which is headed by their foreign ministers.

India is involved in a large number of development works in Afghanistan, which include building the 218 km Zaranj-Delaram highway, the Salma dam and the Afghan parliament building.