By APD writer Rishika Chauhan

New Delhi, May 17 (APD) - Indian officials recently informed that two Mi-24 attack helicopters were delivered to Afghanistan on Thursday.

Indian ambassador to Kabul Vinay Kumar gave the choppers toAfghan defence minister Asadullah Khalidat an air force base in Kabul.

After receiving the helicopters, the defence minister informed that Afghanistan was planning to buy two more of the helicopters. Through twitter, he said, “Two more of the same type will be purchased and supplied to the Afghan Air Force in order to make the area operations more effective.”

In a statement, the Indian embassy in Kabul said that the helicopters were sold to their neighboring state with an aim of strengthening its air force to help them defeat the Taliban.

The statement further explained that the Mi-24s will enhance Afghanistan’s air force capability and make it equipped to combat terrorism.

A report published in the Hindustan Times quoted Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (retd) explaining, “The attack helicopters will boost the offensive power of the Afghan forces. The choppers will be a great asset to the Afghan air force in Kabul’s fight against terrorism.”

More similar helicopters are expected to be delivered by India at the end of this year. Previously India has also trained Afghan National Security Forces and Afghan National Police personnel.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)