WASHINGTON: The Defence Minister Mr. Sharad Pawar says he is “quite happy” with the outcome of his visit to the United states which was intended to build good relations between the Indian Defence ministry and Pentagon.

Talking to reporters on Wednesday Mr Pawar once against denied that he had discussed any arms deals with US officials. “I was supposed (according to press reports) to discuss purchase of arms and guns. That subject was not how ever on my agenda” he said. “We did not discuss it nor did the US Government suggest anything.”

Mr. Pawar said India could go to any market if it wanted to buy arms. He said that initially there was some problem with Soviet supplies but “by and large we are not facing any problem now.”

The Defence Minister declined to go into details of his talks with the US Defence Secretary Mr. Dick Cheney about collective security and regional security. There was no detailed discussion on this matter he said.

Admiral David Jeremiah Vice Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon who briefed reporters at the Foreign Press Center on Wednesday on Pentagon issues said the discussions with the Indian Defence Minister took place in the context of the changing relationships in the post-cold war world. “There is need for US to share views on military questions and work together and continue to develop solid relationship” he said

On regional security the Admiral said: “It is pretty far down the road. To create new relationship is very unusual bilateral relations with countries basically confidence building measures are much more in the realm of possibility.

The admiral said he could not give precise dates for the proposed US India joint Naval Exercises in the Indian Ocean. “We are working on that” he added

Mr. Pawar parried a question about the contradiction between India’s long-held view about keeping the Indian Ocean a zone of peace and its decision to join the United States in conducting naval exercises in the area. He said they were intended to exchange information. The process had started with Australia Indonesia and Britain. “There was some talk about naval capability of India. We would like to remove all suspicion” Mr. Pawar said.

The Defence Minister said US officials had discussed with him in Delhi as well as in Washington the issue of nuclear proliferation and the five-nation conference (for securing a nuclear-free south Asia). India was not against nuclear non-proliferation but wanted it to be implemented global. Due to knee trouble Mr. Pawar cancelled some of his engagements including a meeting with Mr. Sam Nunn chairman of the Senate Armed Services committee. The Defence Minister was initially reluctant to talk to reporters on record but later agreed fielding questions without however giving awary much “This is a sensitive matter” Mr. Pawar explained.

Article extracted from this publication >> April 24, 1992