a38 national – india u.s., india sign new defense deal with...
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Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar (l) and U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter signing a new defense deal in New Delhi
June 3. (IANS photo)
U.S., India Sign New Defense Deal with Thrust on Research By LOLITA C. BALDORAssociated Press
NEW DELHI – After several years
of bureaucratic delays, the U.S. and
India are moving ahead with two
joint research projects for the mili-
tary that officials hope will set the
stage for greater defense coopera-
tion in the years ahead.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter and
Indian Defense Minister Manohar
Parrikar signed a defense agreement
on June 3, as part of a broader U.S.
effort to improve what has been a
rocky relationship between the two
countries. The U.S. views India as a
key ally in the Asia Pacific, in part
as a countermeasure to China and
a lynchpin in America’s effort to
deepen military and diplomatic ties
with countries at Beijing’s doorstep.
Carter acknowledged the dif-
ficulties on both sides in breaking
through the red tape to achieve more
development cooperation, but said
things are moving forward.
``There is a legacy and histori-
cal burden of bureaucracy in both
countries, and it’s a constant exer-
cise in stripping that away,’’ he told
reporters traveling with him. ̀ `It’s the
burden that we carry forward from
the fact that we were two separated
industrial systems for so long during
the Cold War. It just takes time to get
the two of them together.’’
The latest, more tangible progress
in the development projects, include
two $1 million research ventures.
While small, defense officials say
the two-year projects will set the
groundwork for future collabora-
tion.
``Some of the projects that we’re
launching just now are, in part,
intended to blaze a trail for things
to come,’’ Carter said.
One of the projects moving for-
ward is the development of a high-
tech mobile power source for the
Marine Corps that would work
on solar energy, be smaller, more
portable and efficient, and could be
used in remote outposts.
The other is a protective suit
for the Army that would be more
lightweight and effective when used
in chemical and biological hazard
incidents. Other possibilities down
the road include collaboration on
some aircraft carrier and jet engine
technology.
U.S. leaders have long hoped
to partner more with India as it
modernizes its military, but Indian
leaders have been more interested in
co-development opportunities than
in simply buying American-made
weapons.
India has also been courting a
strong business relationship with
China. Beijing sees India as a market
for its increasingly high-tech goods,
from high-speed trains to nuclear
power plants, while India wants to
attract Chinese investment in manu-
facturing and infrastructure.
At the same time, however, India
has been concerned about China’s
quest for greater influence and
increased military activities in the
Indian Ocean.
One theme of Carter’s trip here
was greater maritime cooperation,
and to underscore that he began
his visit June 2 with a stop at India’s
Eastern Naval Command in the port
city of Vizag. He toured a navy ship,
the INS Sahyadri, before flying on
to New Delhi.
NEW DELHI (PTI) – The Indian
government has asked Persons of
Indian Origin to apply for registra-
tion as Overseas Citizen of India
before Sept. 30.
The Home Ministry advisory
came after the government an-
nounced plans to merge the PIO
and OCI schemes.
India Loses Battle to BlockU.S. Poultry
WASHINGTON (AP) – The World
Trade Organization has upheld a
ruling that India is unfairly blocking
imports of U.S. poultry and eggs. The
Obama administration called the
decision a major victory that should
greatly expand export opportunities
for American farmers.
The ruling announced June 4 by
the Geneva-based WTO’s appellate
body upheld a decision issued by a
dispute panel last October.
India imposed the trade barriers
in 2007 to prevent avian influenza
from entering the country. The WTO
said they were too restrictive and
not based on international scientific
standards.
The U.S. poultry industry has esti-
mated that exports of poultry meat
alone could exceed $300 million
annually once India’s restrictions
are removed. The United States ex-
ports 20 percent of its poultry meat
production each year.
U.S. Trade Representative Mi-
chael Froman said the WTO victory
showed that the administration was
``fully committed to enforcing U.S.
rights’’ in the trade agreements it
negotiates.
The decision comes as the White
House is fighting to win the House
votes it needs for approval of fast-
track legislation that will allow it to
wrap up negotiations for a 12-nation
Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact.
PIOs Advised to Apply for OCI Cards
The OCI, which comes in the
form of a “smart card,” grants
life-long Indian visas and other
benefits not available to PIO card-
holders. It is expected to facilitate
quicker clearance at immigration
check posts, and also help in
obtaining consular services from
Indian missions. In India, the
card-holders will be exempt from
police reporting.
The government has created a
new online application form to
apply for registration as OCI even
though PIO card-holders can also
apply through Indian missions.
The government said it was
informing all immigration check-
posts and airlines to allow travel-
ers using either of the cards.