‘No arms deal sans product support’

Evading queries on Washington’s continued support to ‘‘dictators like Pakistan and the continuing denial of technology to India’’, Ross said US was India’s ‘‘most reliable partner’’.

The Secretary for Defence Production and Supplies, N.S. Sisodia, told the American representatives that India would not hesitate to look for ‘‘alternative’’partners if US held back product support and transfer of dual technology in production of defence equipment.

He dangled a 14-billion dollar carrot before the visitors and said they need to ‘‘shape up’’ or face ‘‘missed opportunities’’.

‘‘What is suitable for India is denied, what is offered is unsuitable and what is available is too expensive,’’ Sisodia said. He asked US to clear ‘‘apprehensions about its reliability as partner in product support’’.

Meanwhile, US Under-Secretary for Commerce Kenneth Juster met Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal on Tuesday.