Bharat Rakshak

matrimc wrote:The other news is that the first couple are visiting Agra too to see Tajmahal. Redux of Clinton dancing with Rajasthani women who were lot more poised and lot more dignified than the ex-President.

Clinton the man used to ooze charm - a fact that was not apparent to me until he visited India.

NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi-led government is all set to go where the previous UPA government had feared to tread. India and the US may soon agree on allowing their warships and aircraft to access each other's bases, refuel and, in case of emergency, operate side by side.

For this, India has to sign what the US calls "Foundational Documents" or agreements required by its law for the transfer of sophisticated military technology and weapons to a country.

Sources tell NDTV( ) that the government is no longer shy of exploring the pacts that the previous Congress-led government, especially then Defence Minister AK Antony, had refused to even consider, saying India's sovereignty would be compromised.
In a sign of change under the new government, these agreements were at the core of negotiations between India and the US for renewing a 10-year Defence Framework pact. The discussions ended on Wednesday, setting the stage for announcements to be made during President Barack Obama's visit.

Sources tell NDTV( ) that the US handed over "Non Papers" - or informal discussion papers - asking India to consider the agreements. In response, New Delhi asked how these would benefit India. The pacts include the Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement, the Logistics Support Agreement and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for geo-spatial cooperation.

Sources say New Delhi's apprehensions on these pacts are wearing thin.

"Signing the agreements will institutionalise what is already routine...Indian ships replenishing supplies in Gulf with US support or vice versa. There is hardly any request that is denied on either side," a senior Defence Ministry official told NDTV. (How does replenishing food and fuel supplies institutionalize sharing of bases and communication protocols?)

The official also said signing one of these agreements may at times lead to a situation where the US can listen in on communication between platforms, but also allow Indian surveillance aircraft and ships to hook on to US satellites, connect to American assets thousands of nautical miles away and gather real time information, which India cannot do today.

Sources say PM Modi has asked the Defence Ministry to explore "convergence" with the US on these issues while renewing the 2005 Defence framework pact, under which the US has supplied $10 billion worth of weapons to India.

Political opposition had forced the Congress-led government to skirt around the contentious agreements. There have been major changes since then; the US has shifted its focus from the Gulf to Asia, where it sees India as a "strategic partner." More importantly, Prime Minister Modi has enough numbers in Parliament and is not dependent on allies who may object.

Philip wrote:The news item that the US is insisting that ANY tiny particle of fuel or eqpt sourced from any country for use in Indian N-reactors,MUST be accessibile to US intrusive inspections 24X7 "in perpetuity"!

chetak wrote:Among several other controversial things, they also wanted US servicemen and women on R&R in India to be accorded full diplomatic immunity.

Hope that the GOI is careful about signing any potentially unwanted agreemants

In all the talk of “deliverables” that might come out of President Obama’s trip to India this weekend, two areas would seem like no-brainers. Both countries stand to benefit greatly from greater cooperation in civil nuclear power and defense technology, unlike other areas where very real conflicts remain. The U.S. is home to manufacturers of cutting-edge nuclear technology and military equipment, which are eager for new markets abroad. India is starved for power and almost entirely dependent on imports for military equipment. It’s desperate for quality suppliers.

Between them, India’s needs are greater. When he meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Obama will press for concessions that would open the door for U.S. companies. Modi should grant them.

New Delhi: US President Barack Obama has said "safe havens" of terrorism inside Pakistan were not acceptable and those behind Mumbai terror attacks must be brought to justice.

"I have made it clear that even as the US works with Pakistan to meet the threat of terrorism, safe havens within Pakistan are not acceptable and that those behind the Mumbai terrorist attack must face justice," Obama said in an interview to India Today magazine which has been published in the upcoming issue of the weekly.

pankajs wrote:An example of the current thinking in US circles.

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2 ... obama-trip
Modi Needs to Be a Generous Host

In all the talk of “deliverables” that might come out of President Obama’s trip to India this weekend, two areas would seem like no-brainers. Both countries stand to benefit greatly from greater cooperation in civil nuclear power and defense technology, unlike other areas where very real conflicts remain. The U.S. is home to manufacturers of cutting-edge nuclear technology and military equipment, which are eager for new markets abroad. India is starved for power and almost entirely dependent on imports for military equipment. It’s desperate for quality suppliers.

Between them, India’s needs are greater. When he meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Obama will press for concessions that would open the door for U.S. companies. Modi should grant them.

India needs to be generous to the US because it is the smaller country but wait .. it also needs to be generous to Bakis because it is a bigger country.

Philip wrote:Was O'Bomber a generous host when PM Modi visited?

He cannot offer anything useful to Indian interests that will be seen through by the next administration.

Tuvaluan wrote:Shiv wrote:

Clinton the man used to ooze charm - a fact that was not apparent to me until he visited India.

Unfortunately Clinton's presidency and legacy ware stained by his oozing bodily fluids. Still fondly recall how Clinton's secretary of state M. Halfbright wagged a righteous finger at India for the 1998 tests and proclaimed that India would pay for that misdeed. BO is so BOring in comparison.

I hope the eagerness does not lead us to compromise

Liberal Democrats have this wierd love for islam, almost like a death wish. They are also the most racist bunch of phucks I have ever come across in the US

Despite what many of us say here, India is a fun place with lots of excitement around the next corner, you don't know what will happen next or who will ring your door bell.

Anantha wrote:Unfortunately Ombaba's daughters are not coming to India due to school year in full swing. It could have been good soft power projection.

Pratyush wrote:I don't think that India will have any objections to IAEA inspection of the designated civilian plants.

The US would be aware of this. Thus the insistence on intrusive US inspections is a ploy to delay the implementation of the nuke deal by the Khans. This posture would not have been arrived at by some low level flunkey in the SD. It will have to have the support from the POTUS himself.

The question that comes to mind is what would be the end game to this policy.

The ans that is most obvious to me is TSP. Non operational nuke deal with India preserves == with the TSP. As this deal cannot be offered to the TSP as TSP is currently configured.

by Gus
there are 10 kinds of people in the world. those who understand binary and those who don't