India offers 80 Afghan cadets 1-year training programme

New Delhi: Honouring its long and time-tested ties with Afghanistan, India has offered a one-year training programme for nearly 80 Afghan cadets after they complete their courses in various military academies here.

The Afghan embassy in India welcomed the offer considering the  uncertain future facing the young cadets in view of the prevailing situation there.

The cadets will be given training under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

"Eighty young Afghan cadets who recently graduated from various military academies in India have been offered a 12-month training program in Effective English Communication for Business and Office," the Afghan embassy said in a statement.

It said the programme starts on February 7 and the cadets will be placed in three different institutes in India and that they will be provided with accommodation and a monthly allowance.

"Given the challenges and uncertainty facing these freshly graduated young cadets due to the prevailing situation back home, the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in India



welcomes and applauses this generous move by the Indian government," the embassy said.  India regularly provided military training to young Afghan cadets in the last few years. 

The Taliban captured power in Afghanistan on August 15 following the withdrawal of the American forces.  India has not recognised the new regime in Afghanistan and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul besides insisting that Afghan soil must not be used for any terrorist activities against any country.

In the last couple of months, India delivered large quantities of life-saving medicines and other supplies as part of its humanitarian aid to the war-torn country.

India has been pitching for providing unimpeded humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the country.

Concerned about the developments in Afghanistan, India hosted a regional dialogue on Afghanistan on  November 10.  It was attended by National Security Advisors of Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.