India to train "at-risk" 80 Afghan cadets for another year

New Delhi: India has decided to offer an additional year of training for 80 cadets of Afghan National Security Forces, who were in training at various Indian military academies. The move is to protect the Afghan nationals who are at risk. Given Kabul's fall last August and the Taliban ruling the country, the said cadets are considered under threat if they go back, The Indian Express reported.

The Afghan Embassy said in a statement that the recently graduated eighty cadets would be offered a 12-month training programme in Effective English Communication for Business and Office. The programme starts on February 7 while the cadets will be admitted to various institutions, providing accommodation and a monthly allowance. The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) under the Ministry of External Affairs will carry out the training.

Considering the uncertainty and threats the freshly graduated cadets might face back home under the Taliban regime, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in India appreciates the Indian government's generous gesture, the statement said.

The United Nations had informed recently that they have credible information that more than 100 former members of the Afghan government, security forces and those who worked with international troops were killed under the new Taliban regime. Also, there were enforced disappearances as well as other violations of the rights of former government members.

India always had close ties with Afghanistan and regularly trained the Islamic republic's cadets. The Indian government has been persuading the Taliban to form an inclusive government in the nation and has reiterated no terrorist activities must be promoted in Afghanistan. India had sent large shipments of relief to the struggling country, including medicines, Covid-19 vaccines etc.

Further, it plans to send wheat supplies via Pakistan, and preparations are going on, according to Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.