No backing out of US pact: Pranab

In the face of criticism by the Left, the government today made it clear that there was no question of backing down from the framework defen...

In the face of criticism by the Left, the government today made it clear that there was no question of backing down from the framework defence document signed between India and the US.

At the same time, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee tried to play down the rhetoric on the new Indo-US understanding on defence, and brought up the subject at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).

Mukherjee will meet Left leaders this week and try to address their concerns over India’s enhanced defence relations with the US. “The Left has an ideological postulation. We will keep it in view,” he said.

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In what seemed an attempt to assuage the Left, the Defence Minister said, “This is not a treaty or an agreement. It is not even a pact. It is just a framework, a follow up of the ten-year framework we signed with the US in 1995.”

Apparently debunking reports suggesting that his visit set the stage for a far more improved strategic relations, he said discussions in Washington were only “reasonably satisfactory,” though they were “heart to heart.”

The minister said the points enshrined in the document were “nothing new” and were the ongoing subjects between the two governments which were “naturally reflected in the framework.”

“There have been ideological perceptions about my visit. But we as a government can only look for areas to agree with the US, not disagree. This is in our national interes.t We are simply expanding our friends circle,” he said.

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“ We have technological deficiencies and need to fill up the gaps through technology from outside,” the minister said.

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