Congress demands clarification from Centre on US asking India for use of airbase

New Delhi: Congress MP Manish Tewari on Wednesday sought clarification from the government after reports surfaced that the United States has approached India to allow use of airbases situated at North West frontiers.

Tewari in a statement said, "Is it correct that US Secretary Blinken has approached India to allow its bases in Northwest to be used for Air Strikes against Afghanistan?" He said that the PMO needs to clarify soon as whichever nation has allowed US to utilise its soil for Military operations, blow back has been devastating.

"Over the past 70 years, no foreign forces have ever been allowed to base themselves in India. It would constitute the gravest violation of India's sovereignty. From Okinawa, Philippines, Korea, Vietnam, Loas, Kampuchea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Latin & S America, history littered with the debris and consequences of allow any US or other foreign Military presence on a Nation's soil. Such basing rights would be a frontal attack on India's sovereignty and a complete sell out of our National interest. It needs to be neutered in the bud," he added.

Tewari was commenting on news reports which said that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on the Afghanistan issue said that the United States is in touch with India on using as a post for aerial strikes in Afghanistan.