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US hails India's offer to help Afghan forces
US has welcomed India's willingness to help Afghanistan build capabilities of its security forces in accordance with Kabul's priorities and termed the development as a "positive thing."
US has welcomed India's willingness to help Afghanistan build capabilities of its security forces in accordance with Kabul's priorities and termed the development as a "positive thing."
"We do not have any specifics on this, but if this is about helping to train Afghan national security forces, that is a positive thing," Pentagon spokesman Col Dave Lapan told reporters during an off-camera briefing.
Lapan was responding to questions on Indian Defence Minister A K Antony's meeting with his Afghan counterpart Abdul Rahim Wardak in New Delhi yesterday during which the two discussed the security situation in the region.
"Well, I do not know about the specific report. But our point has always been that the more support we can get in the training mission from NATO, other allies, we welcome it," Lapan said.
During an hour-long delegation-level talks, Antony conveyed India's "willingness to work with the Afghan government in building capabilities of its security forces in accordance with their priorities." Gen Wardak, along with a seven-member Afghan delegation, is on a three-day visit to India.
