India sceptical about US offer

Security experts say while MRCA aircraft manufactured by American defence companies like the Lockheed Corporation are more sophisticated than the nuclear-capable F-16 planes the US has decided to transfer to Pakistan, the questions being asked are: (1) how much technology transfer will the US laws allow to India and (2) the prompt delivery of spares.

Officials say India's experience regarding the supply of defence spares has not been quite satisfactory forcing New Delhi to turn to Russia and its former incarnation the Soviet Union.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee had said earlier that India would like to be assured of steady and timely supplies of spares before entering into any defence cooperation agreement with any country.

In a proposed Rs 43,000 crore deal for 125 aircraft, the Indian Air Force had earlier sought information on Mirage-2000 planes manufactured by French company Dassault, Gripen aircraft from Sweden and MIG-29 from Russia.

Security experts here said in the event of American companies being allowed to bid for IAF's planned purchases, only some will be manufactured in the US and the rest in Bangalore, India.

With regard to Indo-US cooperation in civilian nuclear energy sector, officials and experts said it remains to be seen to what extent Washington can travel given the existence of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Secondly, if the US wants to enforce the safeguards in cooperation in civilian nuclear energy sector, it may give rise to sharp differences on the broader question of non-proliferation and export controls, they said.

While the US' readiness to upgrade its defence cooperation with India is in the realm of mere discussions fraught with divergence of opinion, what has happened in the case of Pakistan is the actual delivery of the F-16 planes, the officials pointed out.

They said defence cooperation with the US has always been a very sensitive issue in India and it is more so at present with the Left parties remaining as key pressure group despite their crucial support to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government.

In the light of this, it remains to be seen what effect the US decisions announced last Friday on Indian public opinion, especially the political class.