No talks on military aid from India, will ask if need arises: Afghan envoy Mamundzay

Clearing air on India providing military aid to Afghanistan to combat Taliban, Afghan ambassador in New Delhi Farid Mamumdzay said Kabul has not requested India for any military assistance so far because they have enough support from the United States and the Nato alliance. He, however, added that being the closest friend and natural partner of India, Afghanistan will not hesitate if any help is needed.

He was speaking to the media to announce the

Indo-Afghan Culture week from September 2-5 week in New Delhi.

“So far we have sufficient military support from the US and Nato member States,” the ambassador said. Indian Army Chief Gen. M.M. Naravane too had categorically said several times that India will not send boots on the ground.

Mr Mamumdzay said the situation in Afghanistan remains dire and the country is going through a difficult time. He stated that Afghanistan wants all countries in the region, particularly countries like India and China to give a strong message to the Taliban that terrorism will not be tolerated.

In this context, he said, “Terrorism is not only Afghanistan’s problem. This is a regional war and support from all is needed. There are fighters from Al Qaeda and ISIS which are all threats to the world and in particular the region. In 12 weeks we have lost 4,000 people and over 3 lakh have been rendered homeless,” said Mr Mamumdzay. He added that China has also suffered from terrorism and would continue to suffer if terrorist groups remain operational in

Afghanistan and Beijing should tell the Taliban to enter into a meaningful peace dialogue with the Afghan government.

The Afghan envoy contradicted Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s claim that “Taliban are normal civilians” and how can Pakistan “hunt them down”. "I think by no standards we can call Taliban ordinary people of Afghanistan. Taliban are the people who destroy infrastructures, kill people and inflict so much harm to our society which no common or ordinary person of the country will do," the envoy said.