pmaitra
Senior Member
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2009
- Messages
- 33,262
- Likes
- 19,594
I am of the opinion that we should provide small to medium weapons to Afghanistan.Handful of tanks and howitzers are not that big of a deal. By that I mean these armaments though powerful are in no way capable of hurting Indian interests through military means. Political means are a different thing.
India should hedge its bet. Amrullah Saleh has reestablished National Front of Afghanistan which is essentially the diet version of Northern Alliance. Ahmed Shah Massoud's nephew is also actively taking part in politics (trained in India).
India should provide arms if requested by Afghan govt but at the same time invest in the political and military capabilities of ANF.
We can also replace our T-72s with Arjuns, and transfer those T-72s to Afghanistan. However, I think it is better to give them in installments. If you recall, when the Taliban took over much of Afghanistan, they also took over a lot of military hardware of the previous regime. Our arms transfer to Afghanistan should be conditional to the ANA demonstrating their capability to enforce the authority of the elected government in Kabul.
The recent reports of purchase of T-55 by Pakistan from Serbia is of concern to me, and I wonder where these are destined for.