WASHINGTON:
A top US Senator has strongly pushed for selling the state-of-the-art guardian
drones to India which "is going to be the next great thing of defence
collaboration" between both countries.
Democrat Senator Mark Warner and his Republican colleague in the
Senate Dan Sullivan, during a programme here asserted that the erstwhile Obama
Administration and the US Congress designating India as a major defence partner
is a significant step forward in taking the India-US relationship to the next
level.
While the two lawmakers were strong on India-US co-operation in
Asia Pacific region, in particular South China Sea, both appeared to be quite
soft to when it came to India's interest with regard to terrorist safe havens
in Pakistan which has been responsible for a number of terrorist attacks from
across the border.
Senator Sullivan argued the case for joint military operation by
India and the US in areas of common interest.
India, notably has shown reluctance to such a proposal from the
US so far. Warner, who is Co-Chair of the Senate India caucus and Ranking
member of powerful Senate Select Committee on Intelligence expressed his
displeasure of the bureaucracy from the US State Department and Department of
Defense in selling the guardian drones to India.
India had requested for purchase of significant number of
guardian drones for maritime surveillance, especially in the Indian Ocean.
"I have been frustrated with the Defence and State
Department in terms of the sale of guardian drones. This is going to be the
next great thing of defence collaboration," Warner said, as he expressed
his disappointment over what he said India's inability to absorb the
requirement of 30 per cent offset.
"Major Defence Partnership" which he said moves India
into the category of non-NATO type ally, "is a great step in the right
direction."
"Actually this (Major Defence Partner) status that is
unique to India. The idea is to actually institutionalise (the
relationship)," Sullivan said in his remarks at the Widrow Wilson Center,
a top American think-tank.
Responding to a question on Pakistan, Warner said while India
and the US have a very strong relationship between the intelligence community,
there is enormous concern not only about Pakistan's role in unrest in Kashmir,
but also the terrorist organisations from Pakistan.
Warner said that it is in the best interest of Pakistan not to
differentiate between different groups of terrorists.
Praising India's patience, Warner said India today has risen to
a place where it sees itself as a major international partner. "I want to
send a strong message that Pakistani can't play" both ways, supporting one
group of terrorists one hand and taking action against the others," he said.
Sullivan said there is always an area of common interest with
India.
"I believe we can have strong relationship with both
countries particularly in the area of international terrorism," he
said.
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