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Photos: Indian Army trains Afghan women cadets in Chennai

A four-week military training programme has nineteen Afghan women cadets, serving in combat roles, training alongside Indian counterparts at India’s only academy that trains women cadets and officers. Chennai’s Officers Training Academy is hosting women officers from the Afghan Armed Forces for the second time till December 26. The officers are trained in several areas including weaponry, firing, communication, tactics, administration and logistics.

Updated on: Dec 20, 2018 12:19 PM IST

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Headscarf clad, an Afghan army cadet shows steely focus as she handles the machine gun with the ease of a professional during a training session at the shooting range of the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

Updated on Dec 20, 2018 12:19 PM

Headscarf clad, an Afghan army cadet shows steely focus as she handles the machine gun with the ease of a professional during a training session at the shooting range of the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

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Afghan cadets during a target practice session. A group of 19 women from the Afghanistan Armed forces are visiting, honing their skills at the Indian Army’s academy. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

Updated on Dec 20, 2018 12:19 PM

Afghan cadets during a target practice session. A group of 19 women from the Afghanistan Armed forces are visiting, honing their skills at the Indian Army’s academy. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

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Afghan women army cadets march during a training programme at India’s only academy to impart training to women cadets and officers. The OTA is hosting women officers from the Afghanistan Armed Forces for the second time, the first being last year with 20 women. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

Updated on Dec 20, 2018 12:19 PM

Afghan women army cadets march during a training programme at India’s only academy to impart training to women cadets and officers. The OTA is hosting women officers from the Afghanistan Armed Forces for the second time, the first being last year with 20 women. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

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The month-long training that began November 26, includes weapons training and drill besides other exercises. Indian Army Major Ritu Jaswal said the officers were focused and showed keen interest in what was being taught. “Each country has a different weapon system... Most of the time they use MI-16 assault rifles, here they get the opportunity to learn to use the Indian Small Arms System - light machine guns,” she said. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

Updated on Dec 20, 2018 12:19 PM

The month-long training that began November 26, includes weapons training and drill besides other exercises. Indian Army Major Ritu Jaswal said the officers were focused and showed keen interest in what was being taught. “Each country has a different weapon system... Most of the time they use MI-16 assault rifles, here they get the opportunity to learn to use the Indian Small Arms System - light machine guns,” she said. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

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Army cadets interact during a practice session. Afghanistan Army Liaison Officer Captain Sirajulhaq Safi told PTI that this time officers from the country’s Air Force have also joined the programme. “Compared to last year, the team this year comprises many young officers,” Safi said, adding that his country sees the exercise as a knowledge-sharing experience. The squad has mostly women below 30 years, while a 50-year-old officer is the senior most. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

Updated on Dec 20, 2018 12:19 PM

Army cadets interact during a practice session. Afghanistan Army Liaison Officer Captain Sirajulhaq Safi told PTI that this time officers from the country’s Air Force have also joined the programme. “Compared to last year, the team this year comprises many young officers,” Safi said, adding that his country sees the exercise as a knowledge-sharing experience. The squad has mostly women below 30 years, while a 50-year-old officer is the senior most. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

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The cadets enjoy a light moment during one of their sessions. The training curriculum has also changed since last year and the duration has been extended to four weeks from last year’s three. According to OTA officials, the officers also toured various places in the city during the training period which will end on December 26. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

Updated on Dec 20, 2018 12:19 PM

The cadets enjoy a light moment during one of their sessions. The training curriculum has also changed since last year and the duration has been extended to four weeks from last year’s three. According to OTA officials, the officers also toured various places in the city during the training period which will end on December 26. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

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Afghan women army cadets stand in formation during a practice session. Jaswal, acting as an interpreter for a majority of the women officers who know only Pashto and Dari said that the weather was the major a hurdle faced by these cadets as the present temperature in their country is below 5 degree Celsius. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

Updated on Dec 20, 2018 12:19 PM

Afghan women army cadets stand in formation during a practice session. Jaswal, acting as an interpreter for a majority of the women officers who know only Pashto and Dari said that the weather was the major a hurdle faced by these cadets as the present temperature in their country is below 5 degree Celsius. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

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