Johnson Cherian.
India will continue its development and medical assistance to Afghanistan but will not send troops, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday.
“There shall not be any boots on the ground from India,” Ms. Sitharaman said in response to questions at a joint press conference with her U.S. counterpart, James Mattis.
There has been much speculation about India deploying troops in Afghanistan after U.S. President Donald Trump called for greater Indian involvement in the war-torn country.
After delegation level discussions between the two Ministers, India and the U.S also resolved to eradicate safe havens for terrorists across the globe.
“There can be no tolerance of terrorist safe havens. As global leaders, India and the U.S. resolve to work together to eradicate this scourge,” Mr. Mattis said in a statement.
With increasing Chinese presence in the region, both sides put great emphasis in expanding their expanding maritime cooperation.
Mr. Mattis landed in India on Monday for his maiden three-day visit, the first by a Cabinet member of the Trump administration.
India has already extended a $3-billion aid to Afghanistan and also provides training to its military and other assistance.
