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India-Pakistan | |||
India, US hold talks to bolster defence ties | |||
2008-02-28 | |||
According to Indian defence officials, Gates held talks on the proposed Logistics Support Agreement (LSA), the Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and the end-use verification of US defence equipment. Under the LSA, India and US militaries propose to provide each other with logistic support, re-fuelling and berthing facilities for each others’ warships and aircraft, spares and other services on a reimbursable or equal-value exchange basis. Indian officials told the visiting delegation that New Delhi would require time to look at various aspects of the LSA. “The Defence Minister said that India would revert in due course after holding consultations,” one official said on condition of anonymity. The Indian government is taking time to decide on the pact, proposed by the US two years ago, as it has faced opposition from its communist partners who have already stalled the India-US civil nuclear deal.
Gates’ visit comes close on the heels of the Indian government clearing a 1.1-billion-dollar deal for the purchase of C-130J Hercules military transport planes, as well as acquiring warship USS Trenton (renamed INS Jalashwa) and six Weapon Locating Radars (WLRs). Before embarking for Turkey on the next leg of his tour, the US official also met LK Advani, the leader of main opposition Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in connection with the India-US nuclear deal. According to party sources, Gates sought to convince Advani, whose party is opposed to the draft of the deal, of the importance of finalizing the nuclear deal as soon as possible. The US official has stressed the need for an early conclusion of the nuclear deal, saying that the nuclear pact would have “positive global consequences” besides serving the interests of both countries. | |||
Posted by:Steve White |