India plans to purchase defense equipment from U.S. ...Is this bad news for Russians?

[johnmathew_3000]

Tuesday February 19 9:44 AM ET
India Seeks Closer U.S. Relations
By NEELESH MISRA, Associated Press Writer

NEW DELHI, India (AP) - India is building a closer military relationship with the United States after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, easing a chill that dated to the Cold War, India's defense minister said Tuesday.

Defense Minister George Fernandes' comments came a day after Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said India intends to buy U.S. surveillance radar - its first major military purchase from the United States.

The radar would be used to help fight Islamic militants in the disputed province of Kashmir (news - web sites), an Indian Defense Ministry source said. U.S. officials have not indicated that the radar would be used in Kashmir, and Washington has often said that it would not interfere in the dispute.

``It is unprecedented, since our cooperation was at such a low level,'' Fernandes told a news conference Tuesday. ``Where there was a certain standoffishness, it went away.''

``Post-Sept. 11, a different relationship was developed. Military-to-military cooperation has been worked out,'' he said.

During the Cold War, India professed to be nonaligned but depended politically and militarily on the Soviet Union. Washington tilted toward Pakistan, India's traditional rival.

India - one of the world's biggest arms purchasers - has traditionally bought most of its weapons from Moscow, but is now considering purchases from Washington as well. Indian officials say they need a strong defense against Pakistan and China.

Fernandes stressed that India's closer ties with the U.S. military will not clash with its defense ties with Russia.

``In international relations, we always do balancing acts,'' Fernandes said at a defense show in New Delhi. ``We are working together (with both) and I don't think there is any conflict of interest between our relations with the U.S. and our relations with Russia.''

In Honolulu, Indian and U.S. air force officials began a weeklong conference Monday to promote military cooperation. Joint army, navy and air force exercises ``are on the cards and the program has been worked out. These will be regular features,'' Fernandes said.

India-U.S. relations went through their roughest phase after New Delhi conducted nuclear tests in 1998, followed by tests in Pakistan. The United States and other Western countries imposed economic sanctions on both nations. The U.S. has since lifted most of the sanctions.

On Monday, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan said his nation was ``alarmed by India's relentless pursuit and acquisition of defense equipment which are far beyond India's genuine defense needs.''

Fernandes rejected Khan's criticism on Tuesday, saying: ``Pakistan will not decide what we need. We will decide.''

Fernandes also ruled out any immediate pullback of Indian troops massed on the border with Pakistan, saying Islamabad has not responded to demands that it end cross-border terrorism and extradite 20 men wanted for crimes in India.

India mobilized hundreds of thousands of soldiers on the frontier after blaming a bloody Dec. 13 attack on its Parliament on two Pakistan-based militant groups and Pakistan's spy agency. Pakistan and the militant groups denied any connection.

``We laid certain conditions. Those conditions haven't been met. So, the forces will remain there until a final decision is taken,'' Fernandes said.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since they won independence from Britain in 1947, two over the divided Himalayan province of Kashmir. India also fought a war with China in 1962.

[NatalieLemmer]

Maybe India should cough up the world's #1 most wanted man, first.

I am somewhat fond of India, however, I spent a month there.

Natasha

[johnmathew_3000]

Originally posted by NatalieLemmer
Maybe India should cough up the world's #1 most wanted man, first.

I am somewhat fond of India, however, I spent a month there.

Natasha

INDIA HAS BIN LADEN????? OH OK and all this time I thought he was from Saudi Arabia, carrying out his activities from Afghanistan.....Guess, We (USA) invaded the wrong country then....

[Marxman]

You USA boys are invading the wrong countries since many years. The best would be to revert projectiles into the CIA HQ.

[johnmathew_3000]

Originally posted by Marxman
You USA boys are invading the wrong countries since many years. The best would be to revert projectiles into the CIA HQ.

Perhaps you can answer for all the innocent lives lost during the communist regime....

[Marxman]

Yeah, I can answer. First, they died under the dictatorship of Stalin, who is not a real favour to communism but a BAD NAME. Second, many died because they deserved to (NAZIS, COLLABORATORS, SABOTEURS,...). Third, it was WWII, it was either "me and you" policy. Fourth, USA and all other capitalist countries made sure that communism has a bad name and disgrace and they succeeded but the fact is, they lied. Fifth, not so many were killed under communism, don't listen to the USA boys, their only weapon were lies and still is.
You have enough answers? But the fact is still that USA is worse than the Roman empire, worse than the middle age Feudalism, worse than any empire so far.

[NatalieLemmer]

HEATED TEMPERS SO QUICKLY.

Marxman, come now shooting projectiles into CIA HQ is not a solution. I appreciate military humor, however.

Lies are not the only weapon, withholding information is more powerful, and we are all a bit misguided.

Where is our compromise?

********************************************************
John:

A spasm to even rival myself. Did I miss some news? I don't watch T.V. & occassionally read the news paper, but I LOVE TIME magazine...

do we have bin laden?

Is it fair to turn him over? Where would he be safe? A lot of powerful people mourn WTCF. Will he spend the rest of his days in prison, or in hiding (either way he needs to be out of commission).

He needs to do his time like a man.

Natasha