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India to stay in Afghanistan despite Pak objections
During an hour-long bilateral meeting held between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Obama held at Blair house in Washington on Sunday, the Indian PM has made it clear that there was no question of withdrawing from Afghanistan despite Pakistans objection.
The uncompromising posture on Afghanistan is based on the efforts India has made in the war-torn country, where many Indians have also been killed. In 2008, Indias Military Attaché Brig R.D. Mehta and IFS officer Venkat Rao were killed in a suicide bombing. This year six Indians, including two Indian army Majors were killed when Taliban terrorists attacked the hotel where they were staying.
India, which did not send troops to Afghanistan to support the US-led global war on terror (GWOT), is involved in large scale humanitarian relief work. As part of the relief work, India has pledged US$1.3 billion in aid to the Afghan government, making it the biggest regional contributor. It is also constructing power stations, schools, hospitals, and training the Afghan national army apart from gifting buses to setup a public transport system and providing aircrafts to Afghanistans national carrier.
The meeting that took place on the side-lines of the ongoing nuclear security summit was significant to both countries, since diplomatic relations were strained due to several recent issues like India not getting access to 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind, David Headley, who is under US custody and the US' decision to supply more weapons (F-16s, frigates etc) to Pakistan despite India's concerns.
On its part, the US response was positive on both the important issues. OneIndia reports that Obama has assured India will get access to Headley. However, no time, date or place has yet been finalised. Another important outcome of the meeting was President Obama applauding the Indian role in Afghanistan and expressing desire that India continue the good work in Kabul, as well as promising to monitor the US arms aid to Pakistan reports Hindustan Times.
As a consequence of the tough stand taken by PM Manmohan Singh, PTI reports that Obama has prevailed upon the Pakistani PM Yousuf Raza Gilani, in a bilateral meeting, to reign in the terror groups like LeT operating against India from its soil.
8ak - Indian Defence News
During an hour-long bilateral meeting held between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Obama held at Blair house in Washington on Sunday, the Indian PM has made it clear that there was no question of withdrawing from Afghanistan despite Pakistans objection.
The uncompromising posture on Afghanistan is based on the efforts India has made in the war-torn country, where many Indians have also been killed. In 2008, Indias Military Attaché Brig R.D. Mehta and IFS officer Venkat Rao were killed in a suicide bombing. This year six Indians, including two Indian army Majors were killed when Taliban terrorists attacked the hotel where they were staying.
India, which did not send troops to Afghanistan to support the US-led global war on terror (GWOT), is involved in large scale humanitarian relief work. As part of the relief work, India has pledged US$1.3 billion in aid to the Afghan government, making it the biggest regional contributor. It is also constructing power stations, schools, hospitals, and training the Afghan national army apart from gifting buses to setup a public transport system and providing aircrafts to Afghanistans national carrier.
The meeting that took place on the side-lines of the ongoing nuclear security summit was significant to both countries, since diplomatic relations were strained due to several recent issues like India not getting access to 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind, David Headley, who is under US custody and the US' decision to supply more weapons (F-16s, frigates etc) to Pakistan despite India's concerns.
On its part, the US response was positive on both the important issues. OneIndia reports that Obama has assured India will get access to Headley. However, no time, date or place has yet been finalised. Another important outcome of the meeting was President Obama applauding the Indian role in Afghanistan and expressing desire that India continue the good work in Kabul, as well as promising to monitor the US arms aid to Pakistan reports Hindustan Times.
As a consequence of the tough stand taken by PM Manmohan Singh, PTI reports that Obama has prevailed upon the Pakistani PM Yousuf Raza Gilani, in a bilateral meeting, to reign in the terror groups like LeT operating against India from its soil.
8ak - Indian Defence News
