India is comfortable with bilateral discussions with the US when it comes to military matters as it finds them more effective that a joint dialogue involving more ministries. Defence Minister AK Antony has said that the two plus two format of talks involving joint meetings between the Foreign and Defence ministers is not followed by India. We are comfortable with bilateral discussions. Two plus two is not a system we follow in the Defence Ministry. That is the problem. (We have) nothing against anybody, Antony said at the sidelines of an Army function here. He added that India does not follow the joint dialogue format of talks with any country. We are following certain procedure and systems. As far as Defence Ministry is concerned we have not had any kind of two plus two dialogue with any country at the ministerial level. They are more effective,more useful , he said. While Antony said that ties between India and the US are increasing and he expects to meet the Defence Secretary at a mutually convenient time,he reiterated that the prevailing system of bilateral talks will continue. We want to continue the system which we are following from the beginning. Let it be. We do not find any reason for changing it, Antony said As reported by The Indian Express,India has turned down an offer by the US to have a strategic dialogue involving the Defence and the External Affairs Ministers with their counterparts from Washington after objections were raised by the Defence Ministry. While a high powered team from the US,including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,Secretary of Defence Robert Gates and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was to come in April for a joint strategic dialogue,the meeting was called off after Antony conveyed his unavailability. On the domestic front,Antony rubbished concerns about a Kargil type situation in Arunachal Pradesh that had been brought up by the states finance minster. Antony said that the Indian border with China is peaceful and the capabilities of the armed forces are being increased. Just as the other side is increasing their capabilities,our Army and Air Force are also increasing their capabilities. So we are confident of protecting our interest in any territory. At the moment the border is peaceful, he said.
