U.S. to discuss F-16 sale to India: Condoleeza Rice
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, March 16, IRNA
India-US-Pak
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice here on Tuesday evening said Washington is willing to discuss the sale of F-16 fighter jets with India, reports New Delhi Television from India's capital.
Rice arrived in New Delhi Tuesday evening on her first visit to India after taking over the most important job in the State Department of the US government.
New Delhi is the first halt for Rice who is on an eight-day trip to South and East Asia. This trip indicates the importance the U.S.
administration attaches to the Asian developments. Rice is to visit India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Japan, Korea and China.
Rice will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and hold wide-range discussions with External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh on the entire gamut of bilateral ties. She will also meet Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani.
The developments in Nepal on which the US shares India's concern, the situation in Iraq, post-election scenario in Afghanistan, the West Asia crisis and UN reforms are expected to come up during the parleys, reports the Press Trust of India (PTI).
On its part the Indian side is expected to brief Rice on the progress in the peace process with Pakistan.
C. Rajamohan, strategic analyst told the same news channel that India would raise the issue of possible sale of nuclear reactors by the US to Indian entities.
New Delhi is eager to buy nuclear reactors and argues that India should not be denied the chance of buying nuclear reactors from U.S.
sellers, especially since China, India's strategic competitor, enjoys the privilege.
Apart from other issues, the visiting Secretary of State will definitely get to hear India's concerns about Pakistan in the post-9/11 world. India feels disturbed by the proximity that Pakistan enjoys as an ally in the U.S.-led "War on Terror".
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::IRNA No.005 17/03/2005 09:52 --End
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