Three small unarmed Cheetal helicopters were transferred in April this year.
India has delivered three of four Russian Mi-25 helicopter gunships to Afghanistan, sources have told NDTV. India and Afghanistan had agreed to the decision to transfer four of the Russian made attack helicopters, this year. The transfer comes ahead of the expected visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kabul soon.
The transfer is a major change in policy. Under the UPA government, Afghanistan was given no lethal weaponry. India was the first country to sign a Strategic Partnership Agreement with Kabul, before, even the US. But military assistance was restricted to the training of about 1,000 Afghan security personnel every year and the supply of non-lethal equipment. Three small unarmed Cheetal helicopters were transferred in April 2015.
This is the first time India has transferred helicopter gunships or lethal weapons to any country. It comes at a time the Taliban have been making territorial gains after the US-led foreign troop drawdown.
After the Northern Kunduz town was taken back from the Taliban, with heavy loss of life, there are now reports of parts of the southern province of Helmand coming under their control. The attack helicopters will be used by Afghan forces, who are in dire need of air support in the fight against the Taliban.
The first official confirmation of the decision to transfer the gunships came from the Afghan deputy foreign minister in November. After meetings Indian officials in Delhi, Hekmat Khalil Karzai told NDTV the deal was crucial, since 2015 by far, has been the most "violent year."