No Indian military role in Afghanistan beyond training: Leon Panetta

The US would like India to expand its efforts to train Afghanistan's security forces but does see a military role beyond that, visiting US Defence Secretary said Wednesday.

The US would like India to expand its efforts to train Afghanistan's security forces but does see a military role beyond that, visiting US Defence Secretary said Wednesday.

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"What I have asked for is for India to continue to provide. I understand the training takes place in India. I have asked, if possible to expand this training. Beyond this, nothing in terms of additional military efforts," Panetta said during an interactive session after delivering a lecture on India-US relations at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA).

He was responding to a question on whether, during his talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menonn he had urged more intensive Indian efforts in Afghanistan and whether he had made any specific requests.