NEW DELHI – India will deliver four gunship helicopters to Afghanistanahead of the war-torn country’s spring fighting season, the second time NewDelhi has supplied lethal military equipment to Kabul.

Afghanistan, Belarus and India inked a trilateral pact for the refurbishedMi-24 helicopters earlier this month, Afghan ambassador Shaida Abdali saidin an interview on Monday.

“We recently were able to sign a trilateral MoU…India will be paying forthe four Mi-24s (which will be delivered) in the next few months. All thefour helicopters (will be) paid (for) by India,” he said.

Afghanistan has a four-year military transition plan backed by the US tomodernise its air force, but the country reached out to India forassistance in acquiring some helicopters needed immediately forcounter-terrorism operations.

Afghanistan will have ready helicopters that will be used in the comingseason at Pak Afghan border areas against terrorists.