No Indian troops in Afghanistan, says Nirmala Sitharaman

New Delhi: Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman receives US Defence Secretary James Mattis at the Defense Ministry office in New Delhi on Sept 26, 2017. (Photo: IANS)


India on Tuesday ruled out deploying its troops in Afghanistan but will expand its development activities to help stabilize the war-torn country.

“There shall not be any (Indian) boots on the ground in Afghanistan,” Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters after talks with visiting US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis here.

She said there was a growing convergence between India and the US over the issue of terrorism in the region and condemnation of those who use terror as an instrument of state policy.