By Lalit K JhaWashington, Nov 10 (PTI) The Pentagon has been asked byUS Congressional leaders to develop a "forward-looking"strategy to form an enduring defence relationship with India.
Congressional leaders reconciling the differences betweenthe House and Senate versions of the National DefenseAuthorisation Act (NDAA-2018) also asked the US and India towork closely in Afghanistan.
The new version of the NDAA-2018 require the Secretary ofDefence to "develop a forward-looking strategy” that wouldbuild upon current objectives and goals, underlining a mutualdesire to develop an enduring defence relationship withIndia".
According to it, the US and India "should work closelywith Afghanistan" to promote stability in the region toinclude targeted infrastructure development and economicinvestment, means to address capability gaps in country, andimproved humanitarian and disaster relief assistance.
The US Congress in its last NDAA-2017 had designatedIndia as a 'Major Defence Partner'.
In its latest conference report, the Congressionalleaders on Thursday said that the designation of 'MajorDefence Partner' is unique to India, and institutionalises theprogress made to facilitate defence trade and technologycooperation between the United States and India to a levelcommensurate with the closest allies and partners of America.
"The designation promotes joint exercises, defencestrategy and policy coordination, military exchanges, and portcalls in support of defence cooperation between the UnitedStates and India," it said.
Reconciled version of the NDAA-2018 now heads to theHouse and Senate floor for formal approval, before it is sentto the White House for US President Donald Trump to sign itinto a law.
Among other things, it asked Secretary of State RexTillerson and the Defence Secretary Jim Mattis to develop astrategy for advancing defence cooperation between the UnitedStates and India. PTI LKJNSA.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.