Sans military back home, Afghan cadets at IMA stare at uncertain future

The Taliban have captured the whole of Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul. Back in India, the future of 83 cadets of Afghanistan, who are undergoing training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, hangs in the balance because the Afghan Army has already surrendered to the Taliban.

Dehradun: The Taliban have captured the whole of Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul. Here in India, the future of 83 cadets of Afghanistan, who are undergoing training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, hangs in the balance because the Afghan Army has already surrendered to the Taliban.

Presently 83 Afghan cadets are taking training at IMA Dehradun. Of these, 40 cadets would lead their country's army by becoming officers in the Passing Out Parade (POP) to be held in December. But before they could pass out, the Taliban captured Afghanistan and the Afghan army also surrendered to the Taliban.

IMA's Public Relations Officer Lt Col Himani Pant said that 43 Gentleman Cadets of Afghanistan are scheduled to pass out in the coming December and the rest of the cadets will pass out in June 2022.

"At present, no message has come from the Government of India or Afghanistan regarding these Gentlemen Cadets. In future, the kind of guidelines issued by the Ministry of Defense, the IMA administration will work accordingly," said Pant.

Apart from Afghanistan, Gentleman Cadets from 18 friendly countries including Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Maldives, and Vietnam undergo military training every year at IMA.

"Afghan cadets undergoing training at IMA are worried about their families," he added.

According to Lt Col Pant, all the cadets are in touch with their families over telephone. "Everyone's family is safe," he confirmed.

Shaurya Chakra winner Retired Colonel Rakesh Singh Kukreti opined that Afghan military officers who passed out from Dehradun IMA can be kept in the country till the situation in their country becomes normal.

"As long as they are taking military training, the responsibility of their safety lies with the Government of India," he said.

"If the Taliban is recognized from other countries as well, then on the demand of the Taliban government, the Afghan cadets who have passed out from the IMA can be sent back," he added.

Apart from this, Kukreti said that if they want to give their service in India itself, then the Government of India will have to decide for this. By the way, according to the rules of the Indian Army, there is no official provision to keep them here.