Question: Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to satate :-

(a) whether Afghanistan has sought Indian military aid;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to strengthen defence cooperation with Afghanistan including the Indian military training to the Afghan security forces;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken / being taken by the Government to strengthen the defence relation with Afghanistan?

Answer: Minister of Defence (Shri A.K. Antony)

(a) to (e) The Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) with Afghanistan signed on October 4, 2011 provides for security cooperation between the two countries under which India has agreed to assist, as mutually determined, in the training, equipping and capacity building programmes for Afghan National Security Forces. India’s assistance to Afghanistan in the defence sector is based upon specific requests from the Government of Afghanistan.

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