Indian Army will be training the Afghan National Army (ANA).

[Bull]

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Tuesday, April 24, 2007 (Kabul)
For the first time ever a team from the Indian Army will be training the Afghan National Army (ANA).

The team is heading to Kabul in the next few months. The decision, which has huge strategic implications, will certainly irritate Islamabad.

A greater Indian presence in its backyard will not be taken too kindly but for India it also means making it's presence felt in other countries in central Asia.

The army is shedding its traditional reluctance to get involved in India's extended neighbourhood.

By the end of May an Indian military team will be in Afghanistan to train members of the ANA and in the next six months a similar training group will be deployed in Uzbekistan, top military sources have told NDTV.

The team, comprising 10 to 12 officers from various arms of the army like the infantry and the education corps, will work directly under the command of India's defence attach in Kabul.

Since 2001, several Indian military delegations have visited Afghanistan but this is the first time a full-fledged military team will be stationed there.

The Indian team, which is likely to have at least three women officers, will be based in Kabul.

Besides teaching English to the troops, it will train them in weapon handling, map craft and fundamental battalion procedures.

Calculated risk

The decision to send the team to Kabul was taken in February, and on last Friday the annual Army Commanders' conference also approved plans to send a similar team to Uzbekistan.

This decision is in consonance with India's recent forays into central Asian republics.

Although India is one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping forces around the world it is for the first time in the past decade that India is getting involved in a non-UN military mission.

But critics think India is taking a huge risk in sending an army team to Kabul.

''This decision will send a wrong signal in the neighbourhood. India can do whatever it wants in reconstruction of war-ravaged Afghanistan but to send even a small training team is fraught with dangers. Pakistan will instigate the Taliban against us and even Iran will not take it kindly,'' said Lt Gen RK Sawhney, Former DGMI.

Despite the obvious pitfalls the Indian army is willing to take a calculated risk.

The contingents going to Afghanistan and Uzbekistan may be small at the moment, but when they do go, it will represent a big change in India's strategic thinking about its neighbourhood.

[Bull]

Well after the speculative reports that pointed towards India;s plan to station Mig29 and Mi helis in Tashkent base. Here comes the report that says a small contingent of IA is going to be in Afghanistan reporting directly to the Indian military attache.

Worrying signs for Pakistan?

[Baazi]

I hope the IA watches out for the so called friendly fires by the Nato.

[Adux]

Well, it has its downside's. But we are not here to be sissy's. So lets train em afghani's.

[Bull]

I hope the IA watches out for the so called friendly fires by the Nato.

You mean NATO doesnt like we being there and so will resort to such tactics.

[Adux]

This News was always expected, as long as Pakistani relationship with Afghanistan is bad, as well as Indian-Afghanizatan-US relationships are at its heights

[Baazi]

You mean NATO doesnt like we being there and so will resort to such tactics.

well If US troops can be killed by friendly fire as they claim then anything is possible.

[Baazi]

This News was always expected, as long as Pakistani relationship with Afghanistan is bad, as well as Indian-Afghanizatan-US relationships are at its heights

In other words u r saying that Afghanistan is pro American,Indian, and anti Pakistani.

[MirBadshah]

What would be the Afghan foreign policy after NATO leaves the country and Karazia goes back to US?

Would post Karazai regime equally friendly with India?

[Bull]

As of now India is making sure its in position to fill up the vaccum. Not as if Delhi foresees a NATO withdrawal in a decade.

[Bull]

In other words u r saying that Afghanistan is pro American,Indian, and anti Pakistani.

Pakistanis are saying so,mushraff is also hinting at that.

[Baazi]

Sometimes it is necessary to lie.
I hope u got my point.

[Bull]

no i didnt.

[Baazi]

Pakistanis are saying so,mushraff is also hinting at that.

If Afghanistan is pro US then i wonder who is fighting the them.

[joey]

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India has recieved European/Us/NATO request to send troops to Afganistan, but it wont send Troops to afganistan to led the war on terror, as it will give the oposition bench a tool to preach against Congress in elections to get the minority vote bank, so This is indirect way they are going to get involved, though india has contributed to humanatarian effort in afganistan by building roads and hospitals.

I have a doubt in mind can someone clear it? how can dark looking Indian army train fairer afganis?