U.S. firms in talks to provide sensors

Several U.S. companies are in talks with India's defence ministry to supply sensors that would help to curb infiltration across the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, the U.S. Ambassador to India, Robert D. Blackwill, announced yesterday.

Addressing a news conference on the sidelines of Aero India 2003, Asia's biggest aerospace exhibitions, here, Blackwill said that a host of companies were involved in talks with the defence ministry on providing sensors.

But, the decision to purchase the sensors from American companies is just one indication of what Blackwill himself describes as the "mushrooming" Indo-U.S. military trade.

From "near zero" in September 2001, when the U.S. sanctions were lifted against India in the wake of 9/11, U.S. military sales to India have jumped to $190 million at the end of 2002.

"No single area of U.S.-India cooperation highlights our transformed bilateral relationship more than defence cooperation," Blackwill said after opening the U.S. pavilion at the exhibition. This is the first time since 1996 that 10 American companies are participating in the Aero India show.

American companies had not participated in the 1998 and 2001 air shows because of the U.S. sanctions imposed after India conducted the nuclear tests at Pokhran in 1998.

When asked if the jump in defence sales to India was because of the war against terrorism in the post 9/11 situation as well as because of the changing nature of U.S.-Pakistan and U.S.-India relations, he said: "Nothing to do with Pakistan. Military trade mushroomed because of good relations with India."

"We don't tilt. That concept is 30 years old. We want good relations with both India and Pakistan," he said in reply to another question. After the lifting of the 1998 sanctions in the post 9/11 situation, India has been put, along with South Korea and Japan in the category of American Treaty Allies.

The Ambassador said: "The United States will be a reliable provider of defence commodities to India because a strengthened, capable, and effective Indian military is in America's national interest."

The transformation comes in the wake of the National security strategy of the U.S. which says: "We (India and the U.S.) have a common interest in the free flow of commerce, including through the vital sea lanes of the Indian Ocean. Finally, we share an interest in fighting terrorism and in creating a strategically stable Asia. We start with a view of India as a growing world power with which we have common strategic interests."

"For the United States, defence sales are a part of our overall national security policy, not simply a matter of business and commerce," Blackwill said.

The "mushrooming" of defence sales in the last one year and more has led to India leasing several additional U.S. fire finding and weapon locating radars in addition to those already contracted for purchase. Spares for the first shipment of Sea King helicopters were delivered to India's shipping agent in the U.S. on January 30,2003.

Indian and U.S. army officials are in discussions on the former's request for significant special forces equipment and chemical and biological protection equipment. In March, a U.S. navy team ill visit India to discuss the possible sale of U.S. Navy P3 maritime patrol aircraft to India.

Asked if the U.S. could be a reliable supplier, Blackwill said that given the nature of the relationship with imposition of sanctions, such doubts in India were understandable.

"First of all, no U.S. administration can give 30 year guarantee for supply of equipment. We have to have a change in the Constitution of the U.S. The Congress has the authority to decide on such issues."

On Indo-Pak relations, Blackwill said that the U.S. has repeatedly expressed its view that India and Pakistan should have an" active diplomatic dialogue. It is better than frozen diplomatic relations."

"But, it is up to the Government of India to decide how to conduct its diplomatic relations. There is nothing more we can do than express our view," he said.