India Gives Afghanistan Three Mi-25 Attack Helicopters

India has delivered three Mi-25 attack helicopters to Afghanistan.

Mi-24 choppers, of which the Mi-25s are a variant, pictured. (Photo: iStockphoto)

In what is seen as a shift in its strategy towards Afghanistan, India has delivered three Mi-25 attack helicopters to the war-torn country.

Defence sources said that three such choppers have already been delivered to the Afghan government, which will boost its capability against Taliban terrorists.

The choppers were taken to Afghanistan in a C-17 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force, sources said. Another helicopter is likely to be delivered next week.

While Afghanistan has repeatedly sought India’s support in beefing up its military’s fighting capability in terms of machinery, India had shied away till now.

The development came after the recent visit of Afghan National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar to New Delhi.

Afghanistan has till now been dependent on the US air support in its operations against the Taliban. However, with the American forces pulling out that country to a large extent, the Afghan forces will be using the Mi-25 now.