Nirmala Sitharaman:Troops wont be deployed to Afghanistan

India's Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made it clear to US Defence Secretary James Mattis that no Indian troops will be deployed to Afghanistan. She said even though India has helped Afghanistan by building dams, schools and providing medical assistance and training to its people, it will not send its troops to Afghanistan.

Nirmala Sitharaman said "These will continue. These engagements will continue," Sitharaman told Mattis, but "there shall be no boots on the ground in Afghanistan". She also said that she has raised the issue of US military aid to Pakistan in her talks with Mattis.

Sitharaman said India's share strong relations with the US. She said the two countries "share a strong and vibrant strategic partnership as the world's largest democracies". "We also share fundamental values and interests," she said.

Mattis said the US values India's "invaluable contribution to Afghanistan" and welcomes further efforts to promote democracy, safety and security there.