Offer still holds, but we’ll watch: Feith

Despite rumours that the Indian security establishment would go easy on the growing Indo-US ties, Under-Secretary Defence for Policy, spoke familiar language by insisting that the US had renewed its offer to the new government to cooperate on a missile defence shield. ‘‘It is a new government so we will wait and see what it thinks,’’ said the under-secretary, Douglas Feith, after his meeting with Defence Ministry officials.

While the two sides have held discussions on further Indo-US joint exercises as well as transfer of military hardware, they are likely to agree on a definitive course of action tomorrow. Feith also brushed aside any worries on the part of the US over India’s strategic ties with Iran. ‘‘We all know that Iran is a problem for the US due to its nuclear programme, its support to terrorism and hostility towards the US,’’ said Feith, adding that India too was aware of these issues. He said the US would continue its balancing act between India and Pakistan as ‘‘both are important friends with whom we share a strategic relationship’’.

He reiterated that the US had renewed its offer to substantially increase Indo-US joint exercises and made significant progress on Defence trade and exchange of information of high-technology issues. The official also called on Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee. — ENS