India, US defence policy meet seeks to 'deepen' military ties
07 Nov 2009
New Delhi: India and US have decided to "further deepen" their military-strategic ties, especially in areas like joint combat exercises, defence trade, maritime security and information exchange. The positive outcome was reflected in a joint statement by both the sides soon after concluding the two-day annual Defence Policy Group (DPG) meeting.
The meet was co-chaired by defence secretary, Pradeep Kumar, and US deputy secretary of defence, William J Lynn, on Friday.
"The world's two largest democracies working together on defence sends a powerful signal," said Lynn.
However, a measure of frustration may have seeped through on the American side, at the stonewalling of all attempts by India to sign two defence related agreements with the US which would enhance and facilitate US defence interaction and trade.
The two agreements that the US has been pushing India to sign up for long are the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) and the Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum Agreement (CISMOA).
Lynn pointed out that both agreements have been discussed over several years and there has been ''pretty full exchange on their elements and benefits but action remained to be taken by the Indian government in bringing them on to the signing table.
