INDIA: The US will build stronger military ties with India, Defence Secretary Mr Donald Rumsfeld said yesterday, a day after New Delhi warned Washington not to sell weapons to nuclear rival Pakistan as it could trigger an arms race in South Asia.
"We discussed all types of things that are important to our two ministries," Mr Rumsfeld said after the meeting with his Indian counterpart, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, but declined to elaborate or take questions.
"The defence relationship [with India] is a strong one and something we intend to see further knitted together...in the months and years ahead," said Mr Rumsfeld during his visit to India.
"In case of US arms-supply to Pakistan, the government will not hesitate to ensure that our defence preparedness is not compromised in any way," the Foreign Minister, Mr Natwar Singh, told parliament. He said the proposed sale of weapons - worth around US $1.2 billion - to Pakistan would also affect India's relations with the US.
"We have pointed out that supply of arms to Pakistan at a time when the India-Pakistan dialogue is at a sensitive stage would have a negative impact," Mr Singh said.
Both sides that have fought three wars since independence in 1947 have been engaged in a tentative peace process since January.
Washington is looking to sell to Pakistan around 25 F16 fighters, eight P3C maritime surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, 2,000 anti-tank missiles and six Phalanx gun systems, which are mounted on ships to shoot down incoming missiles. No final decision, however, has been taken on the transaction.
At the weekend, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf met US President George W Bush in Washington, where the armaments sale was discussed.
The Pakistan Air Force operates F16s and has been prevented from replenishing its fleet due to US embargoes.