The recent India-China-Afghanistan cooperation towards training of Afghan diplomats has been well received by the most in the World. However India’s decision to not be militarily involved in Afghanistan has yet again invited mockery from the one mocked maximum in this world—-the US president.
Last month, US President Donald Trump announced withdrawal of around 14,000 American troops from Afghanistan, even as the 17-year-old war started by USA itself, continues to destabilise the country and the region. India has been rightly persistent in its policy to support Afghanistan only through development projects and supplying of military hardware but has wisely kept out of sending soldiers on the ground, a decision that has been much criticised by President Trump.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Trump mocked Prime Minister Modi and India’s efforts in Afghanistan since US has been pushing India to get involved militarily. Saying that he does not like “being taken advantage of”, the US president questioned India’s efforts. “I get along very well with India and Prime Minister Modi but he is constantly telling me that he has built a library in Afghanistan. That is like five hours of what we spend. And he tells it. He is very smart. What are we supposed to say, oh thank you, for the library. I don’t know who is using it in Afghanistan,” he said.
Well Trump can keep yapping but cannot push India in any way.
Now Afghanistan’s National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib has arrived in New Delhi to hold talks over the security situation in Afghanistan and ways to enhance cooperation between the two nations. The meeting between the two Countries comes at a time when the Trump administration has announced withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.
Sources say India and Afghanistan will discuss additional supply of military equipments to Afghanistan and further training programs for the forces. India has been training Afghan army officers. The Afghan NSA would be discussing various aspects of relations between the two countries including the vacuum that Kabul will have to deal with in case of US troop withdrawal. Hamdullah Mobin will also be calling on Prime Minister Modi.
