India-US Relations : News and Discussion

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 21 Jan 2015 03:09

Just for perspective, with this trip of Obama on NaMo's invitation... (For those who remember)

First - US President was Eisenhower, 1959.. India was just one stop 10+ countries including Pakistan.
Second -- 10 years later, Nixon 1969 .. Again India was just one stop among 8 countries including Pak.
Third - 10 or so years later, Carter 1978 ..India, just one stop among 7, but not Pak because of coup there.
Again 12 years later (2000) -- Clinton made the trip (which also included Oman, Pak, Bangladesh etc..- Yes there was a coup there but Clinton still meet Mush.)

Bush's trip also included Pakistan..

Obama's trip for an US President - first time its a second visit. First time - invited guest at 26th January..First time, a US President is not visiting any other country (Not even Pakistan for = =) - He changed the timing of his State of Union address to keep the his visit in India on time..

And he is honored guest of NaMo (PM elected by largest/greatest group of people) representing people.

No matter, I know cynics will make fun but, IMO optics is very important..

As a scientist I get impressed only by real (or what can be measured) things.. but still this is noteworthy and impressive.. few random points I think..

1 - The optics of the leaders of the world’s two biggest nations celebrating India’s 66th Republic day is in itself a powerful. (Republic Day shows not only India’s soft power; it is also display its hard power). Closer military ties between Washington and New Delhi will not be lost.

2. GIAN, easy visa travel, etc.. causes will only be helped by people knowing that it has support from NaMo and others. (I am talking about many things which helps both US and India - win win)

3.Confirmation by Richard Verma as US ambassador by US Congress (which is notoriously blocks all such appointments just out of spite for Obama) indicates the bipartisan support in the US for improved relations with India. ( Even people like John McCain who generally opposes anything Obama says, said “India’s rise as a global actor can benefit the US”)

4. Verma is the first Indian American ambassador of the US to India. It shows the increasingly clout Indian diaspora is playing not only in the US but also in enhancing relations with India. (Ad hominem attacks by a vocal minority in BRF tells more about the posters IMO). I see many (much more than ever before) US citizens of Indian origin in departments of defence, state, energy and justice dealing with India - many speak the language and are familiar with the issues etc. Yes I see it gives heart-burn to a few in Brf and no doubt a few officials in India .. but NaMo clears understand the advantage of these able Indian Americans representing Washington’s interests. NaMo also understands the advantage of engaging with these highly placed Americans of Indian descent as well as the broader Indian diaspora. (The NaMo's outreach - his address at MSG and invitation to top US based expert ( eg Panagariya, Bill gates, Manjul Bhargava etc)

5. It is a credit to NaMo, (and in some cases US - but NaMo's looking past even his own Visa case is impressive) that many irritating points (eg Khobragade, NaMo's Visa etc) have not stalled everything.

Time will tell, but I think there will be good outcome in the near future regarding clean energy, economic cooperation, security (fighting terror) etc.... As Kerry quotes NaMo .."Sabka saath sabka vikas".

Tuvaluan · Post by **Tuvaluan** » 21 Jan 2015 03:28

http://thediplomat.com/2015/01/obamas-second-coming/

A realistic view of Obama's visit -- correctly points out there is unlikely to be any breakthrough on the nuclear energy front, shorn of wishful thinking.

On nuclear energy, it is unlikely that there will be a major breakthrough on supplier-side liability, an impediment in the participation of U.S. companies in India’s civil nuclear industry.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 21 Jan 2015 03:41

production engineering/automation/robotics is one area where we need more pros-perts!

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 21 Jan 2015 03:51

Amber G. wrote:Just for perspective, with this trip of Obama on NaMo's invitation... (For those who remember)
Time will tell, but I think there will be good outcome in the near future regarding clean energy, economic cooperation, security (fighting terror) etc.... As Kerry quotes NaMo .."Sabka saath sabka vikas".

In Nutshell, unlike Chinese who steal,Indians will learn from good old USA.

Cosmo_R · Post by **Cosmo_R** » 21 Jan 2015 05:11

arun wrote:P.R. Chinese think tanker, Fu Xiaoqiang, who is a research fellow at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations provides his take to Global Times on the limits to bonhomie between India and the US. Notwithstanding P.R. China’s antipathy to India, an accurate take that there are indeed limits to bonhomie between India and the US:

Pakistan, trade, emissions issues could frustrate closer Indian-US ties

The PRC is worried. Worst nightmare is a closer India-US relationship that translates into a India/US/Japan/OZ + Vietnam, Spore regional grouping.

Same guys were so hopeful that NaMo's treatment by DoS would result in bad blood.

Wishful thinking. Chinese want to divide and conquer

Cosmo_R · Post by **Cosmo_R** » 21 Jan 2015 06:04

pandyan wrote:Saurav Jha...since seems to be pissed off at GIAN. Since all the trigger words like: NRI, Indian Origin, Phoren, America, $$$$ are involved he is mighty upset.

https://twitter.com/SJha1618
Saurav Jha @SJha1618 · Jan 19

What exactly will getting 1000 US Academics to teach in India for 20 days by paying them $12000 each achieve?

So India is now apparently looking to pay $12000 for teaching sessions by foreign academics in govt institutions? http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ind ... 928273.cms …

No more or less than subsidizing 1,000 IIT graduates annually at absurdly low cost only for them to go to the US to do their Masters and do a startup in SV.

The US faculty at least bring (hopefully) some new insights on methods and best practices..

Of course, one could pay them just Rs 1K and that would be peanuts and you would get monkeys.

You get what you pay for except when you pay for schooling for those who then emigrate.The you get nothing.

Vayutuvan · Post by **Vayutuvan** » 21 Jan 2015 06:07

That is a lot of money for 4 weeks of teaching. But if it is 20 days * 8 = 160 hours, then they can easily teach one full course. Approximately 16 weeks semester with 3 credit hours per week works out to 16*9 = 144 hours which is one UG/Grad course per semester.

Probably $12K includes travel to/from the host country which could be ~$2K (economy class + cabs etc.) and accommodation which most probably will be provided in one of the hostels - UG/PG/executive program. They would eat in the dining halls/their old haunts near the campus.

Vayutuvan · Post by **Vayutuvan** » 21 Jan 2015 06:11

Cosmo_R ji: None of the professors are exactly in need of money. As long as they don't have to pay for travel and other stuff, they should not mind and consider it as service to their matru bhoomi AKA motherland. My guess is that a majority would not mind at all even if they are paid nothing.

Cosmo_R · Post by **Cosmo_R** » 21 Jan 2015 06:24

matrimc wrote:Cosmo_R ji: None of the professors are exactly in need of money. As long as they don't have to pay for travel and other stuff, they should not mind and consider it as service to their matru bhoomi AKA motherland. My guess is that a majority would not mind at all even if they are paid nothing.

Service to matru bhoomi does not pay the bills. 99% mind not being paid. The 1% are writing a book.

Our MPs are paid a huge amount when they they are supposed to be doing public service. They are not even accountable for disproportionate assets.

Also, let us not fall into the trap of only paying non NRIs money at market while demanding concessionary rates from NRIs.

Why don't we give them the option of waiving remuneration? Why impose?

Cosmo_R · Post by **Cosmo_R** » 21 Jan 2015 06:40

pandyan wrote:the problem with free is nobody will respect/value free stuff. always charge some token amount for the services rendered and adjust fees depending on the ability of the payer.

Exactly. You get what you pay for. But pay too little and you get even less.

Vayutuvan · Post by **Vayutuvan** » 21 Jan 2015 06:44

All I am saying is that it is not as simple as "if you pay peanuts ...". Same is true with "nobody values free stuff". In today's connected world lot of stuff is free if one limits to information/knowldge. Most data is free as well. Challenge is to convert the data into information and knowledge.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 21 Jan 2015 06:48

The $ objection is just like Indian Babu refusing to pay scientists from busted Soviet Military Industrial complex who lost job in who made their way to China and other countries and India still paying thousand times more in cash to buy defence equipments .

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 21 Jan 2015 06:49

Interesting. So these GIAN brophejars are going to miraculously make desi brats g(ian)naw-ledgeable by sitting in their classes and listening to pearls of wisdom?

Sit in class of Phoren-retarned Brophejar - become Duniya-Class. Automatic. Magic!

If this works, why can't desi brats just take free MOOCs and become smart?

Can GIAN Brophejars give F grades to half the class - or all the class if they don't do their assignments on time? Or would that immediately bring pouting from the brats who are not there on merit but on Degree-Buy Plan (DBP)?

Can GIAN Brophejas assign assignments that make smoke come out of d.b. ears? Or must they just hand out homework identical to worked examples? If so, what is different from class being taught by desi instructor reading out from textbook?

The money mentioned would pay an assistant professor. Per the new NaMO Plan, all DRDO is going to turn out brilliant designs into production in record time, since they are going to be done by ppl under 35. I guess same will work for teaching as well. Very interesting plan!

Gus · Post by **Gus** » 21 Jan 2015 06:57

Amber G. wrote: 4. Verma is the first Indian American ambassador of the US to India. It shows the increasingly clout Indian diaspora is playing not only in the US but also in enhancing relations with India. (Ad hominem attacks by a vocal minority in BRF tells more about the posters IMO). I see many (much more than ever before) US citizens of Indian origin in departments of defence, state, energy and justice dealing with India - many speak the language and are familiar with the issues etc. Yes I see it gives heart-burn to a few in Brf and no doubt a few officials in India .. but NaMo clears understand the advantage of these able Indian Americans representing Washington’s interests. NaMo also understands the advantage of engaging with these highly placed Americans of Indian descent as well as the broader Indian diaspora. (The NaMo's outreach - his address at MSG and invitation to top US based expert ( eg Panagariya, Bill gates, Manjul Bhargava etc)

"heartburn" is not because of his ethnicity as Indian-American.

The annoyance is against the administration for thinking that Indians are going to go "wah wah, ombaba amazing no" just because he appointed an Indian origin person as amby, when in reality he is a lightweight who got this post due to his connection with Harry Reid, who in turn lost his senate majority post and is going nowhere politically.

So Verma does not have administrative clout on his own, no political backers and is just an Indian face that Indians are supposed to be happy seeing.

Well, we got a billion such faces and that's not what we need as amby to our country.

Kashi · Post by **Kashi** » 21 Jan 2015 07:04

Gus wrote:
Amber G. wrote:the advantage of these able Indian Americans representing Washington’s interests.
"heartburn" is not because of his ethnicity as Indian-American.

The annoyance is against the administration for thinking that Indians are going to go "wah wah, ombaba amazing no" just because he appointed an Indian origin person as amby, when in reality he is a lightweight who got this post due to his connection with Harry Reid, who in turn lost his senate majority post and is going nowhere politically.

So Verma does not have administrative clout on his own, no political backers and is just an Indian face that Indians are supposed to be happy seeing.

Well, we got a billion such faces and that's not what we need as amby to our country.

But we certainly need "able Indian Americans representing Washington’s interests.", not mutual Indo-US interests, the point being that the poison maybe more palatable if served by someone who looks like Mohini instead of Bakasur.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 21 Jan 2015 07:42

why is amrikka scared of India's "Make in India"? om baba's state of the union stresses on bring back the jobs to the khaan lands. now what about the lost jobs to china? they didn't feel then?

we should surge forward ignoring khaan relationship at whatever levels they want that to be on our agenda.

Anantha · Post by **Anantha** » 21 Jan 2015 07:56

There is enough space for co-operation between Indian-Americans and NM's objective of a developed India. NM has been in a very low key mood for a month now, which is unusual for him. I think a game changing dramatic announcement is going to happen during Ombaba visit. Possibly a free trade agreement/announcement of India as an ally with "major benefits". This may involve US being a major player in Clean energy, transfer of high tech manufacture in India

Anantha · Post by **Anantha** » 21 Jan 2015 07:58

SaiK the bringing back jobs to Amrika bla bla is done frequently. This is for public consumption and to undercut political opponents.

Gus · Post by **Gus** » 21 Jan 2015 08:02

Kashi wrote:But we certainly need "able Indian Americans representing Washington’s interests.", not mutual Indo-US interests, the point being that the poison maybe more palatable if served by someone who looks like Mohini instead of Bakasur.

even to serve purely American interests, and I don't expect any love of India or favors to India blah blah...the amby needs to have clout to get things done.

The heavyweight ones go to important countries, countries where they don't share ethnicity with. This stinks of a plum posting as favor to Harry Reid and an insulting expectation that Indians can be made happy by just post an Indian-American. That's my reading.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 21 Jan 2015 08:12

American interest is purely money making.. and never let technology assets off their hands. what makes for India?

India should raise above the begging bowl and make it on the table deals.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 21 Jan 2015 08:21

SaiK wrote:why is amrikka scared of India's "Make in India"? om baba's state of the union stresses on bring back the jobs to the khaan lands. now what about the lost jobs to china? they didn't feel then?

we should surge forward ignoring khaan relationship at whatever levels they want that to be on our agenda.

currently the "make in India" as part of the defence off set program is shamefully limited to making metallic dabbas for various gora companies.

Great Indian companies are willing partners and they tom tom such connections to renowned US companies. Sheet metal and minor welding is the limit of technology that have been "allowed" to Indian companies.

The US DOES NOT WISH to proceed beyond this stage because it is MUCH more lucrative for them to do it themselves and supply as kits to us. This is being projected as IP centric and the dangers of stolen IP.

habal · Post by **habal** » 21 Jan 2015 08:49

SaiK wrote:India should raise above the begging bowl and make it on the table deals.

Ok, since 'SaiK' said so, it will be implemented sir !

USA corporates have shared a lot of tech with China. What their excuse with India is that Indians are slightly smarter and can make more headway in learning tech, absorbing and improvising. Any deal with US govt for tech transfer is a failure before it begins, deals for tech transfer should be made directly with corporates and should have nothing to do with the great USA govt or its SD minions or it's administrative apparatus. From that quarter we shall receive nothing except poison to drink and die.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 21 Jan 2015 08:56

habal wrote:
SaiK wrote:India should raise above the begging bowl and make it on the table deals.
Ok, since 'SaiK' said so, it will be implemented sir !

USA corporates have shared a lot of tech with China. What their excuse with India is that Indians are slightly smarter and can make more headway in learning tech, absorbing and improvising. Any deal with US govt for tech transfer is a failure before it begins, deals for tech transfer should be made directly with corporates and should have nothing to do with the great USA govt or its SD minions or it's administrative apparatus. From that quarter we shall receive nothing except poison to drink and die.

china has stolen much of the US technology, bribed some individuals to part with technology and what they could not steal or bribe, they paid handsomely for.

Nothing wrong with this approach. It has worked wonders for them. What's stopping us??

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 21 Jan 2015 09:57

^^^

The mindset was that we are poor country with the crony socialists in power.

With the current "mercantile gujju", in power. I don't for a minute think that India will not "Beg, Borrow & Steal" for the upliftment of its masses. He is obsessed with the idea of making India a developed nation.

He will do whatever it takes to get the job done in the next 10 years. Failing which, he will have created a system and placed it, so that the work carries on, even if he is not at the helm of the affairs.

Kashi · Post by **Kashi** » 21 Jan 2015 10:03

Gus wrote:even to serve purely American interests, and I don't expect any love of India or favors to India blah blah...the amby needs to have clout to get things done.

The heavyweight ones go to important countries, countries where they don't share ethnicity with. This stinks of a plum posting as favor to Harry Reid and an insulting expectation that Indians can be made happy by just post an Indian-American. That's my reading.

This is exactly the motivation behind this. When the response is apathetic or perhaps lukewarm at best, then it's wished away as heartburn and ignorance and an inability to grasp the "warmth" and "fondness" behind such a gesture.

If it looks like a rooster but quacks like a duck, walks like a duck....

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 21 Jan 2015 10:04

Pratyush wrote:^^^

The mindset was that we are poor country with the crony socialists in power.

With the current "mercantile gujju", in power. I don't for a minute think that India will not "Beg, Borrow & Steal" for the upliftment of its masses. He is obsessed with the idea of making India a developed nation.

He will do whatever it takes to get the job done in the next 10 years. Failing which, he will have created a system and placed it, so that the work carries on, even if he is not at the helm of the affairs.

beg, borrow, steal is for individual companies and entities. The govt getting involved in such a thing overtly may be counter productive.

stealth is of the essence and also the name of the game.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 21 Jan 2015 10:10

Kashi wrote:
Gus wrote:even to serve purely American interests, and I don't expect any love of India or favors to India blah blah...the amby needs to have clout to get things done.

The heavyweight ones go to important countries, countries where they don't share ethnicity with. This stinks of a plum posting as favor to Harry Reid and an insulting expectation that Indians can be made happy by just post an Indian-American. That's my reading.
This is exactly the motivation behind this. When the response is apathetic or perhaps lukewarm at best, then it's wished away as heartburn and ignorance and an inability to grasp the "warmth" and "fondness" behind such a gesture.

If it looks like a rooster but quacks like a duck, walks like a duck....

maybe the message is hiding in plain sight and we are missing the woods for the trees. Light weight and lacking in clout with the obama admin need not necessarily mean the same with other entities.

Kashi · Post by **Kashi** » 21 Jan 2015 10:18

chetak wrote:maybe the message is hiding in plain sight and we are missing the woods for the trees. Light weight and lacking in clout with the obama admin need not necessarily mean the same with other entities.

Possibly, but then we have to wait for two more years to find out, when those entities will supposedly come to the forefront.

Of course if it's Bobby Jindal then it's a different story

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 21 Jan 2015 16:10

habal wrote:
SaiK wrote:India should raise above the begging bowl and make it on the table deals.
Ok, since 'SaiK' said so, it will be implemented sir !

USA corporates have shared a lot of tech with China. What their excuse with India is that Indians are slightly smarter and can make more headway in learning tech, absorbing and improvising. Any deal with US govt for tech transfer is a failure before it begins, deals for tech transfer should be made directly with corporates and should have nothing to do with the great USA govt or its SD minions or it's administrative apparatus. From that quarter we shall receive nothing except poison to drink and die.

From another thread:
x-posting viewtopic.php?p=1774829#p1774829

quote="vishvak">>]
Peru now has a ‘licence to kill’ environmental protesters
..
vast majority of them indigenous – are on trial following protests
..
but what about the government functionaries who apparently gave the riot police the order to attack the protestors, the police themselves, and – following Wikileaks’ revelations of cables in which the US ambassador in Lima criticized the Peruvian government’s “reluctance to use force” and wrote there could be “implications for the recently implemented Peru-US FTA” if the protests continued
..
The conflict broke out in northern Peru after mainly indigenous Awajúns and Wampis had been peacefully protesting a series of new laws which were supposedly emitted to comply with a trade agreement between Peru and the US and which made it easier, among other things, for extractive industries to exploit natural resources in their territories. Following a blockade of a highway near a town called Bagua – and an agreement that the protestors would break up and go home, reached the day before – early on 5 June the police moved to clear it and started shooting. In the ensuing conflict, 10 police officers, five indigenous people and five non-indigenous civilians were killed, more than 200 injured – at least 80 of whom were shot – and, elsewhere in the Bagua region, a further 11 police officers were killed after being taken hostage.
..
“So far only protesters have been brought to trial,” said Amnesty International in a statement marking five years since the conflict and pointing out that human rights lawyers have said there is no serious evidence linking the accused to the crimes they are being prosecuted for – which include homicide and rebellion.
..
That law, no. 30151, was promulgated in January this year and is, according to the IDL’s Juan José Quispe, a modification of existing legislation passed by the previous government. The modification consists of replacing three words – “en forma reglamentaria” – with another five – “u otro medio de defensa” – which Quispe says means that any soldier or police officer can now kill or injure a civilian without needing to use his or her weapon “according to regulations”, or by using something other than his or her weapon.
..
if you’re Peruvian and you publicly express concern about the environmental and social impacts of mining operations you can expect the following: death threats, rape threats, physical and electronic surveillance, smears and stigmatization by national mainstream media, police acting as “private security” for mining companies, confiscation or theft of equipment, “excessive use of force by police” during protests, arrest, or detention, and prosecution on charges of “rebellion, terrorism, violence, usurpation, trespassing, disobedience or resistance to an official order, obstructing public officers, abduction, outrage to national symbols, criminal damage, causing injury, coercion, disturbance or other public order offences.”
..
the “extraordinary use” of lawsuits constitutes an “abusive use of the judicial system” and impedes “the work of the [accused], affecting their reputation and furthering the view – often upheld by national media – that they are violent extremists. This is especially the case when accusations of terrorism, rebellion or violence are levied.” It states that almost 400 people currently face court proceedings
..
<SNIP>

Point is, FTA between USA and Peru appears to be about raw material from Peru from USA, and Peru's imports from USA link - are mostly finished goods.

U.S. exports to Peru grew 37% in 2010. Principal U.S. exports to Peru in 2010 were machinery, chemicals, computer and electronics, petroleum and oil products, and transportation equipment. Fish, forestry products, wood, newspapers and books, and food products were the fastest growing sectors.

[/quote][/quote]
External debt of Peru - link.
In fact, external debt of Peru has increased by about 50% from 2012 numbers.

ManjaM · Post by **ManjaM** » 21 Jan 2015 17:55

https://in.news.yahoo.com/india-gives-i ... 26686.html

NEW DELHI: After rejecting the United States’ request for a no-fly zone over Rajpath on Republic Day, for which US President Barack Obama will be the chief guest, India has given in to the American demand, according to television reports.
The Indian government, which had earlier stated that it is a tradition on Republic Day to have a fly past and thus could not declare it a no fly zone on January 26, has also confirmed the report.
Rajpath, incidentally, has a no fly zone for commercial flights at all times.
However, following the US security detail’s claims that the aircraft in the fly past could be used as weapons, Indian authorities decided to agree with the American request.
The United States wants India to lock down central Delhi when President Barack Obama visits the Indian capital to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade.
The US advance security team has advised that the entire central Delhi be closed during the Obama visit.
Not only will major roads be blocked, the Delhi Police will also deploy snipers on rooftops along the route that the US President’s motorcade takes.
The entire Raisina Hill area will be closed from January 23 itself. The government is also expecting a far bigger crowd this time, given the presence of the US President and Prime Minister Modi, apart from other dignitaries.
The US Secret Service has also asked the Indian security agencies to sanitise all government buildings by January 24 and close down areas of central Delhi.
Agencies reported that about 1,600 American security personnel, including US Secret Service and CIA officials, will be in India for the US President’s visit.
Obama will spend almost two hours in the open at the Republic Day parade along Rajpath along with the Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Barack and Michelle Obama will be visiting India from January 25 to January 27.

Well, this report is quoting television reports. Not sure about the veracity of those.

panduranghari · Post by **panduranghari** » 21 Jan 2015 17:57

Cosmo_R wrote: No more or less than subsidizing 1,000 IIT graduates annually at absurdly low cost only for them to go to the US to do their Masters and do a startup in SV.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 21 Jan 2015 18:47

I have a pooch on SOP. The no fly zone for Obama visit is growing larger. If an Indian civilian aircraft strays into the zone what would happen? Mr.O is probably coming in with his carriers in tow. Will India as the host country swing into action? Like trying to ID the plane etcc. And say a stray missile from some morons finds its entry, who takes it down? India or US?

SBajwa · Post by **SBajwa** » 21 Jan 2015 19:08

by Gus
Well, we got a billion such faces and that's not what we need as amby to our country.

USA ambassador to India is confirmed by the State Department of USA., His job is to see the USA's interests vis-a-vis India. Indian government does not have anything to say in this matter. By putting an Non Resident American Indian in Charge State Department of USA is actually looking to improve relations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Verma

nvishal · Post by **nvishal** » 21 Jan 2015 19:30

US and indian cultures are pariahs to each other. Firangi ambassadors are given firangi treatment by the indian side. By appointing a punjabi guy as an ambassador, the amercians think that the indian side will now do bangara with him(an indian treatment) on each interaction.

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 21 Jan 2015 19:40

"Non Resident American Indian" ??? Per my understanding, the last part always signifies citizenship.

This Amby Verma dude is an American or more precisely Indian American or loosely Person Of Indian. Our usage of terms are so loose that even the MSM refers to most POIs as NRIs which is incorrect.

SBajwa · Post by **SBajwa** » 21 Jan 2015 19:47

http://www.rediff.com/news/special/obam ... 150121.htm

S President Barack Obama's India visit as chief guest at the Republic Day parade is expected to result in the inking of several defence agreements, to augment bilateral strategic ties between Washington and New Delhi for mutual benefit.

The overarching protocol, in this vast area of likely cooperation, is the 10-year Defence Framework Agreement that will succeed the earlier one which expires in June.

This agreement, which guides the entire range of military dialogue between the two countries, will enhance the scope of bilateral military exercises, reciprocal visits by military personnel, increased intelligence sharing and maritime cooperation.

Analysts view this pact as a subtle move to jointly contain China's growing militarism, especially in the strategic Indian Ocean Region. Japan and Australia too are a part of this growing quadrilateral anxious to limit Beijing's hegemonistic ambitions.

'Strengthening our ties with the US within the existing framework, by enlarging its scope, is definitely beneficial to the country,' Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told a television news channel recently.

The focus, he added, would not be on materiel procurement, but on joint development of military technology.

Consequently, the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative, under which the US is willing to transfer to India at least 17 military technologies, too will be advanced during Obama's New Delhi trip. High-level negotiations are presently ongoing, to reach a consensus on the technologies to be transferred.

Both sides recently agreed to remove bureaucratic hurdles that had prevented activating the DTTI agreed to in 2012, by appointing one official from either side to monitor and untangle it: Frank Kendall, under secretary for acquisition, technology and licensing from the US and G Mohan Kumar, India's secretary of defence production.

Official sources said the transfers of technology nearing closure include those to build the RQ 11 unmanned aerial vehicle with a 10 km range and the roll-on-roll-off intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance module for the 11 C-130J-30 military transport that India has acquired.

Other technologies on offer from the US include those for air defence and Javelin anti-tank guided missiles and for advanced electromagnetic aircraft launch systems for carrier-based fighters.

The Indian Navy can incorporate the latter capability aboard the second aircraft carrier it plans on building after the INS Vikrant, presently being constructed by the Cochin Shipyard Limited and scheduled for commissioning by 2018.

The know how to design and build varied UAVs, ground emplacement mine-scattering systems, Big Data cyber systems, warship guns and assorted military helicopters, too are on offer to Delhi.

And, late last year the US government approved the transfer of BAE Systems M777 155mm/39 calibre light weight howitzers’ entire assembly line from Hattiesburg, Mississippi to India.

If eventually agreed, India would become the global assembly, integration and test centre for the M777 howitzer, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy of sourcing material indigenously.

India, which imports around 70 per cent of its military equipment, aims to reduce this dependency by concentrating on local weapons development.

BAE Systems officials confirmed that with US government concurrence already secured, they could well transfer the M777 AIT facilities to a joint venture with an Indian partner to meet the Indian Army's long-pending requirement for 145 howitzers.

They estimate that these numbers could increase to over 450 guns, as the M777 has been projected to equip the 17 Mountain Strike Corps, currently under raising for deployment along the disputed Chinese border in India's northeast.

"Defence collaboration with the US is a positive development, as India desperately requires an infusion of military technology," defence analyst Lieutenant General Vijay Kapoor (retired) said.

"India needs to develop its defence industrial base as it seeks to modernise its military, that faces collective obsolescence of its predominantly Soviet and Russian equipment," he added.

But to avail fully of these technologies India will need to agree to sign several protocols it has doggedly been opposing for years, on the grounds that they were intrusive and infringed upon its sovereignty.

These include the Logistics Support Agreement -- otherwise known as the Access and Cross-Servicing Agreement -- the Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum Agreement and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Cooperation.

Whilst the LSA permits the reciprocal use of maintenance, servicing, communications, refueling and medical care facilities to the two militaries, the other two covenants are essential for the transfer of secure and encrypted communication systems aboard US military platforms.

These include transport and maritime surveillance aircraft that India has procured already -- and aims to acquire more -- and assorted helicopters which it aims to acquire.

For long India has believed that the LSA compromises its strategic autonomy as it could drag Delhi into possible US conflicts in Asia and the Middle East, and that CISMOA and BECA could imperil its operational autonomy, whilst employing US equipment.

Analysts believe that increased warmth between the Modi and Obama administrations could help overcome past suspicions and smoothen military ties.

"These Cold War mindsets with regard to dealing with Washington need to be discarded," Brigadier Arun Sahgal (retired) of the Forum for Strategic Initiative in New Delhi said. "It is a flatter and more unipolar world today, and strategically India needs to be a part of it," he added.

Over the past three years, between 2011 and 2014, the US surpassed Russia as the largest supplier of military equipment to India as an indicator that the both sides were overcoming their mutual suspicions.

It has sold India $10 billion worth of military gear, mostly via the Foreign Military Sales route that is a government-to-government transaction overseen by the Defence Secuirty Cooperation Agency in Washington, DC.

Indian military imports since 2001 include 12 Thales-Raytheon Systems Firefinder artillery locating radar and six Lockheed-Martin ‘Super Hercules C-130J-30 and 10 Boeing C-17 Globemaster military transport aircraft. India aims on acquiring six additional C-130J-30s and an equal number of C-17s before Boeing shuts down their production facility in California in 2015-2016.

The Indian Navy has procured eight P-8I Neptune long range maritime patrol aircraft and is expected to acquire four more. India is also on the verge of finalising deals estimated at over $2.5 billion for 22 Boeing AH-64E Longbow Apache attack helicopters and 15 Boeing CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters.

Repeat orders for both helicopters are expected, especially for Apaches for the Army Aviation Corps that was given ownership of these platforms in late 2012 following a protracted struggle with the Indian Air Force.

Last August the ministry of defence approved the mandatory offset proposals for these two US helicopter acquisitions. Both platforms now await clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Modi before the deals are inked.

SBajwa · Post by **SBajwa** » 21 Jan 2015 19:48

by nvishal
US and indian cultures are pariahs to each other. Firangi ambassadors are given firangi treatment by the indian side. By appointing a punjabi guy as an ambassador, the amercians think that the indian side will now do bangara with him(an indian treatment) on each interaction.

How so? Your opinion is made up by the Hollywood and US Television. I see US and Indian culture much closer.

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 21 Jan 2015 19:53

http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/curren ... 80197.html
India, US find middle ground in nuclear deal push

Just days ahead of President Barack Obama’s visit, sources say the US has softened its stand over a key sticking point with regard to the nuclear liability law.

CNBC-TV18 learns that India has made it clear that the law making the supplier liable for any nuclear accident will not change. However, it has now proposed that a USD 250 million insurance pool be set up with money from all stakeholders to pay off liabilities.

The crucial meeting is likely to take place in Washington ahead of President Obama's India visit.

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 21 Jan 2015 19:59

SBajwa wrote:
How so? Your opinion is made up by the Hollywood and US Television. I see US and Indian culture much closer.

you've got to be kidding me. Every aspect of life, every second of the day to day life an average Indian and an average American live, are poles apart. And given the disparity in power, the overwhelming sense of racial/cultural superiority that Americans have, means that an average American will be bewildered and be contemptuous of an average India's lifestyle and worldview. Of course, that does not mean India and US cannot collaborate, both bleed red and both like the green, but strategic partnership BS is out of the question.

arshyam · Post by **arshyam** » 21 Jan 2015 20:18

Bajwa-ji, why else was he nominated as the Ambassador? He is neither is professional SD official, nor is a policy heavyweight contributing to some key understanding of India. His most significant achievement seems to be the advisory role to Harry Reid. Heck, no one had heard of him prior to this announcement, even on BRF, let alone the rest of India.

Maybe Americans want to spin this as something positive, but going by past experience, we can do without a PIO ambassador, especially someone who has very little personal pull within the USG. But for some reason Ombaba seems to think India will be happy to see desi faces representing the US side. This seems to be some policy thing for him - one only has to look at the nomination (and the short lived term) of Gary Locke in Beijing.