Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Times of India
February 27, 2008
Pg. 15
By Rajat Pandit, Times News Network
NEW DELHI: India is keen to further bolster defence ties with US, with more joint combat exercises to build interoperability, procurement of military hardware and pacts to ensure secrecy and end-use verification of American defence equipment.
But the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA), proposed by US over two years ago on the lines of its Access and Cross-Servicing Agreements signed with over 60 countries, is off the Indian radar screens for now.
This, in short, is the Indian defence establishment's message for visiting US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates. With the UPA government still floundering to propel the Indo-US civil nuclear deal towards a successful conclusion, it does not want to further antagonise the Left by signing the LSA.
Under the LSA, Indian and American militaries propose to provide each other with logistic support, refuelling and berthing facilities for each other's warships and aircraft, spares and other services on a reimbursable or equal-value exchange basis. With CPM leader Prakash Karat describing the LSA as ''far more dangerous than the nuclear deal'' in its implications, the agreement has been stuck in the Cabinet Committee of Security for the final approval for quite some time now.
India, however, is ready to sign other defence pacts like the Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and the End-Use Verification Agreement of US-sold defence equipment.
After arriving here on Tuesday afternoon, Gates said his aim was to further strengthen military ties with India, which will continue to expand regardless of the fate of the civil nuclear deal, especially in the arena of arms sales and joint military exercises. The US, of course, wants to counterbalance the rapid rise of China in the region. It is also very eager to corner a major chunk of the $30 billion or so India will spend in importing weapon systems and platforms over the coming five years.
February 27, 2008
Pg. 15
By Rajat Pandit, Times News Network
NEW DELHI: India is keen to further bolster defence ties with US, with more joint combat exercises to build interoperability, procurement of military hardware and pacts to ensure secrecy and end-use verification of American defence equipment.
But the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA), proposed by US over two years ago on the lines of its Access and Cross-Servicing Agreements signed with over 60 countries, is off the Indian radar screens for now.
This, in short, is the Indian defence establishment's message for visiting US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates. With the UPA government still floundering to propel the Indo-US civil nuclear deal towards a successful conclusion, it does not want to further antagonise the Left by signing the LSA.
Under the LSA, Indian and American militaries propose to provide each other with logistic support, refuelling and berthing facilities for each other's warships and aircraft, spares and other services on a reimbursable or equal-value exchange basis. With CPM leader Prakash Karat describing the LSA as ''far more dangerous than the nuclear deal'' in its implications, the agreement has been stuck in the Cabinet Committee of Security for the final approval for quite some time now.
India, however, is ready to sign other defence pacts like the Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and the End-Use Verification Agreement of US-sold defence equipment.
After arriving here on Tuesday afternoon, Gates said his aim was to further strengthen military ties with India, which will continue to expand regardless of the fate of the civil nuclear deal, especially in the arena of arms sales and joint military exercises. The US, of course, wants to counterbalance the rapid rise of China in the region. It is also very eager to corner a major chunk of the $30 billion or so India will spend in importing weapon systems and platforms over the coming five years.