WASHINGTON: A bipartisan group of senators in the US have sought enhanced cooperation with India in Afghanistan, including increasing New Delhi's role in helping the Afghan security forces, a move that could miff Pakistan. A legislative amendment to the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) in 2018, was introduced in the Senate to support the demand.
The amendment seeks increasing India's role in assisting the Afghan security forces through logistics support, threat analysis, intelligence, material, and maintenance support. The amendment, if passed, could irk Pakistan as it strongly opposes any Indian role in Afghan. Senators Dan Sullivan, Gary Peters, John Cornyn, and Mark Warner moved the amendment, asking Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to identify ways in which India can take “security and development-related steps” in Afghanistan. It also asks the Pentagon and the State Department to find ways in which India can support “targeted infrastructure development” and economic investment in Afghanistan.
“Improve the provision by India of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance to Afghanistan, including through the provision of logistics support by India, joint training between Afghanistan and India, and combined military planning by Afghanistan and India for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions in Afghanistan,” the amendment said.
It sought establishment of priorities for investments to promote security and stability in Afghanistan that align with the “mutual interests” of Afghanistan, India, and the US. The amendment also calls for identifying gaps in the capabilities of Afghanistan security forces, and determine means of addressing such gaps; and identifying economic and infrastructure development opportunities in Afghanistan, related to improving security and stability in the country.
