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The United States said on Tuesday that it would want Israel to sell the state-of-art Phalcon radar planes to India only after there is a de-escalation of tension with Pakistan.
State department spokesman Richard Boucher said on Tuesday: "Our position on the Phalcon sale is that we are supportive of the sale. We wanted to discuss the timing and the capabilities of the equipment with the Israeli government. Under Secretary Bolton was out there to do that. Our position on the Phalcon sale is as stated by (Boucher's deputy Phil) Reeker last week, and any other characterisation of the US government's position, by whatever officials or wire services, is not correct."
Asked whether the issue was discussed with Defence Minister George Fernandes during his recent visit, Boucher said, "You have to ask that question at the Pentagon."
Boucher said that the Phalcon issue was not discussed during the Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to India recently.
"The criteria for any sale that we make or any advice we give to other governments about their sales have to do with regional stability, with the effect on regional balances, our view of the situation and the use of the equipment," Boucher said, when asked why the Phalcons could not be sold to China.
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