US wants expansion of military ties with India

Washington : US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said his country would like to strengthen and expand the its military to military ties with India.

His comments come a week ahead of India’s Defence Minister AK Antony’s visit here.

” We are looking to expand relationship in ways that are mutually beneficial,” Gates told reporters at a Pentagon briefing.

“They have a big competition going on for a new modern fighter. We’ll probably have some conversations about that,” Gates said meaning India’s requirement in moder warfare arsenals.

He said he had cordial meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister A K Antony when he visited India last year.

Answering questions, Gates said they were looking ways and means for removing restrictions on export of high-technology items for peaceful projects.

” We think that is certainly high on our list, particularly in the context of export-import, or export controls, and my view of the importance of changing those export controls in ways that better protect the things that are really important and open up trade and allow US companies to sell abroad those things that technologies that are not critical,” Gates said.