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US backs Indian effort to train Afghan forces

Justin Joseph

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US backs Indian effort to train Afghan forces

Washington The US has said it is 'very supportive' of the Indian effort to train Afghan security forces, amid reports that President Hamid Karzai has agreed to send a group of military officers to Pakistan for training.

"We are very supportive of the Afghan army and police taking advantage of international offers to provide professional military education and training to their security forces. Obviously it is an Afghan decision, in terms of which are those opportunities Kabul wants to take advantage of," US Under Secretary of Defence for Policy, Michele Flournoy, said.

There already are a number of Afghans training in India and benefiting greatly given the professionalism of the Indian military and what they can provide, she said.

"So, we are very supportive of that effort," Flournoy said yesterday in response to a question after her address on 'Investing in the Future of US-India Defence Relations' before the Washington Chapter of the Asia Society.

Flournoy's remarks came a day after 'The Washington Post' reported that Karzai had agreed to send a group of Afghan military officers to Pakistan for training.

"The move is a victory for Pakistan, which seeks a major role in Afghanistan as officials in both countries become increasingly convinced that the US war effort there is faltering," the daily said.

In her speech, Flournoy said India was playing a critical and positive role in Afghanistan's economic and social development, and that help will continue.

"We highly value India's role and, frankly, the sacrifices that India has made in support of this mission, in building economic and social opportunities in Afghanistan. We see India's continued involvement in Afghanistan's development as a key part of that country's future success," she said.

The Pentagon official, a key confidante of US President Barack Obama, acknowledged of rivalry and distrust between India and Pakistan on the issue of Afghanistan.

"Certainly, given the historic tensions between India and Pakistan, both countries tend to view Afghanistan through that prism," she said in response to a question.

The US is very supportive of any steps that the Indians and Pakistani government choose to take to deal with the issues directly between them and to reduce tensions and build confidence, Flournoy said.

"But in Afghanistan, I would sort of separate the two countries. India has played a very important role in economic and social development in Afghanistan in multiple sectors and we would like to see them continue to play that role," she said.

"I think, with regard to India and Pakistan, there is an inherited distrust between the two countries and we are very supportive of whatever steps they take in being transparent with one another and take some confidence-building measures," Flournoy said. "Because the truth is that they all have a stake in the stability of the region."

She said the US has strategic partnerships with all three countries -- India, Pakistan and Afghanistan -- and one of the things it continues to try to press is its belief that common stake in regional security can actually bring them to a place of cooperation that they have not experienced before, but it is not going to be easy to get there.

Flournoy said the US has no plan to abandon Afghanistan after July 2011, when the drawdown of its troops would begin.

She said the US has enduring commitment to the region.

"We have learned our lessons from history. We have no plans to depart the region and to abandon Afghanistan anytime soon," she said.

"Everything has to be seen in the context of a long- term commitment to both the security and development of Afghanistan. That said, he (Obama) also identified July 2011, as an inflection point in our strategy, when the surge of forces would end, and a process of transition would begin, based on the conditions on the ground," Flournoy said.

US backs Indian effort to train Afghan forces - Express India
 
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Thiis is good .. saves us time and money. They train the soldiers, we train the officers.
 
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Thiis is good .. saves us time and money. They train the soldiers, we train the officers.

Undoubtedly a good idea, as long as Afghans get trained somewhere.
BTW, at last count only Officers/Officer cadets were being trained in India (have seen them).
And there is no 'training war' on.
 
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Weather US likes or not, weather India likes or not, its not going to happen the way USA/India wants. None of them is in position of power there, rather they are loosing their strength and control over the situations. Our defense bottom line says No Indian hand in Afghanistan and we are going to observe it by hook or crook. This is what we have been doing in the past years and this is what we are committed to do in the coming days.

So where we welcome US's statement of greater Indian role, we also pat our soldiers to have a head-shot of few "nice" guys in Afghanistan.
 
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India and its deceptive tactics is nearing an end.

Karazi is now seeing that Pakistan is the right choice.

Afghans realize if they side with India they will suffer at the hands of Pakistan; if Afghans side with Pakistan they will prosper. Its a fact. ISI knows every square inch of Afghanistan. Pak Government/ISI has so much influence and resources in Afghanistan. Its a lose lose situation for India. No matter how much they cry and bang the table this is not going to change.
 
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India and its deceptive tactics is nearing an end.

Karazi is now seeing that Pakistan is the right choice.

Afghans realize if they side with India they will suffer at the hands of Pakistan; if Afghans side with Pakistan they will prosper. Its a fact. ISI knows every square inch of Afghanistan. Pak Government/ISI has so much influence and resources in Afghanistan. Its a lose lose situation for India. No matter how much they cry and bang the table this is not going to change.

This looks a very bullying post to me.

if Afghans side with Pakistan they will prosper

I absolutely doubt this.
 
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This no matter of joy or sorrow here. India training Afghan soldiers is no big deal. I am more concerened about how things are unfloding post US leaves Afgan.

The sky will be much clearer then. need to watch how Karzai govt handles its external afairs.
 
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Afghans realize if they side with India they will suffer at the hands of Pakistan; if Afghans side with Pakistan they will prosper. Its a fact. ISI knows every square inch of Afghanistan. Pak Government/ISI has so much influence and resources in Afghanistan. Its a lose lose situation for India. No matter how much they cry and bang the table this is not going to change.

You have noooooooooooooo idea what we want:)........I dont want you to have any idea too.
 
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This looks a very bullying post to me.



I absolutely doubt this.

No offense brother, but if Afghanistan sides with India they undoubtedly will suffer at the hands of Pakistan. It cold hard facts.
 
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