Afghan FM likely to demand greater Indian involvement in Afghanistan

KABUL/NEW DELHI: Afghanistan is expected to renew its demand for greater Indian involvement in the war-ravaged nation when acting foreign minister Salahuddin Rabbani meets India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi on Monday.

The Afghan foreign minister arrived in Delhi on Sunday for delegation-level talks of the “India Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Council” during which the two sides are likely to review the entire gamut of relations, including the Indian humanitarian assistance to the embattled nation, India’s media reported.

This will be the first high-level visit to India from Afghanistan after US President Donald Trump unveiled his Afghan strategy last month and appealed to India to assume a greater role in the country.

Kabul might also once again ask India to consider the ‘wish-list’ of defence equipment it has sought from India.

While India has not taken a final view on defence requirements of Afghanistan, there is every possibility of New Delhi stepping up its reconstruction and development initiatives in the country.