Mohib, Doval to discuss enhanced security partnership

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: National Security Advisor (NSA) Hamdullah Mohib is expected to visit India later in the week for talks on beefing up security cooperation between New Delhi and Kabul.

Mohib and his Indian counterpart would meet in New Delhi on Friday to discuss the security situation in the region, the Times of India reported on Thursday.

The visit comes days after President Trump’s decision to cut by a half America’s military presence in Afghanistan — a move that has sparked concerns in the region.

The visiting official would hold parleys with his Indian NSA Ajit Doval. Senior military and political officials are likely to be in attendance.

Ways of enhancing security partnership, including the supply of military hardware to Afghanistan, would come up for discussion, the newspaper reported.

While training Afghan army officers on a regular basis, India is considering supplying additional military hardware to Afghanistan to help it combat terrorists.

The pullout of US forces from Afghanistan would create a political and military vacuum, believe experts. Coupled with US efforts for reconciliation with the Taliban, the emerging situation is seen as unfavourable for India.

Mohib, Khalid discuss ‘possible ceasefire, future scenarios’: National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib and acting Defense Minister Asadullah Khalid on Wednesday discussed preparations for a ‘possible ceasefire’ and other future scenarios, a statement said.

The statement from the NSA office said the two top security officials conferred on various matters, particularly increasing the capabilities of the national defense and security forces and the air force.

They also talked about preparation for ‘a possible ceasefire and other related scenarios’, the statement said, but offered no more details.

The statement asked security forces to continue their operations for suppressing the enemy with full coordination and cooperation. (Pajhwok)