India begins training Afghan commandos

India is training a group of Afghan special forces in Rajasthan, army officials said on Friday, deepening its involvement with Afghanistan as its military prepares to secure the country after NATO’s withdrawal in 2014.

Nearly 60 members of the Afghan special forces began training with the Indian army’s 10 Para brigade early this month at their hub in Jodhpur, in Rajasthan state.

“The focus of the training is on counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations, with special emphasis on operations in rural areas,” Colonel S D Goswami, a defence spokesperson said.

The training in Rajasthan is focused on carrying out operations with minimum civilian casualties, another Indian army officer said.

“Civilian casualties in anti-Taliban operations in Afghanistan have deepened resentment of US forces, and in turn, fuelled the insurgency,” he said.

Lieutenant General Prakash Katoch, a former commander of Indian special forces, said joint commando training is to be expected as military ties with Afghanistan deepened.