Afghan President Asks India for Military Aid

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai (R) shakes hands with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee ahead of their meeting at the Rashtrapati Bhavan presidential palace in New Delhi, May 21, 2013.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has given a "wish list" of military equipment to India in hopes of securing more aid before international troops leave his country next year.

The Reuters news agency said Karzai presented the list to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during talks in New Delhi.

An Indian website, firstpost.com, said the list included artillery, medium-lift aircraft, bridge-laying equipment and trucks.

Karzai is seeking India's assistance to help strengthen Afghan security forces and meet military shortages, before NATO forces withdraw by the end of next year.

Last week, the Afghan ambassador in New Delhi said Afghanistan is seeking lethal and non-lethal military equipment.

India does not currently provide weapons to the Afghan army, but has trained some Afghan troops at Indian military institutions.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.