Indian Troops to Fight Taliban

[SWJED]

12 June The Australian - Indian Troops to Fight Taliban (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21890061-31477,00.html) by Bruce Loudon.

India is doubling its deployment of highly trained commandos to combat the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan.

The commandos, from the crack Indo-Tibetan Border Police force that specialises in high-altitude operations in the Himalayas, are being sent to guard about 300 Indian road builders working on the 218km Zaranj-Delaram highway, which will connect Afghanistan's second city, Kandahar, with the Iranian border.

The highway, part of an Indian aid project, traverses the heart of the Taliban badlands and engineers working on the project have been the target of frequent attacks.

The new deployment meant almost 400 commandos would be in the area to combat Taliban attempts to halt construction of the highway, Indian news agency PTI reported...

[davidbfpo]

I do not recall much reporting on the Indian involvement in Afghanistan, so apologies if 'old news'.

When the Taliban government dominated Afghanistan the Northern Alliance, led by General Dostum, there was a small Indian military advisory team, much to the annoyance of the Pakistanis. Less certain now, the advisers provided artillery expertise and assisted the American intervention. After Kabul fell the Indian advisers went low profile.

So Indian has para-military police in Western Afghanistan, I wonder how ISAF manages that relationship?

davidbfpo

[Ray]

India had offered troops when the operations had begun, but this was not taken on so as to not upset the Pakistanis, from whom a greater cooperation was required since the terrorists were launching from the safety and bases in Pakistan.

The Indo Tibetan Border Police are para military personnel. They are being sent to guard the General Reserve Engineer Force (India) that is building the Highway in Afghanistan.

[davidbfpo]

The Indian contractors building the highway have finished, so have the Indian protectors left? Or is there another contract? I note a Chinese contractor is present somewhere and with US Army protection.

davidbfpo