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US to resume arms sales to India

After nearly four decades, the United States will resume arms sales to India with the clearance of export licences of 20 weapons systems, US Ambassador Robert Blackwill said on Monday.

Describing the weapons sales as part of the defence cooperation between the two countries, he also disclosed that from next week onwards, three high-level teams from the United States army, navy and the Marine Corps would be visiting India to finalise the schedule of resumption of joint exercises.

Without elaborating on the armament system to be delivered to India, Blackwill, emerging after a lengthy meeting with Defence Minister George Fernandes, said his discussions had centred around bringing on "fast track" weapons sales as well as other specifics agreed upon on boosting defence cooperation.

The US and India had widespread cooperation in the defence field, particularly arms purchases, after the 1962 debacle with China. However, defence ties were frozen after the 1965 Indo-Pak war and remained in cold storage till sporadic revival in the early '90s.

Though both the sides are tight-lipped, sources said that India was looking to US expertise in procuring weapons locating radars and General Electric engines for the LCA.

Declaring that there was an "excellent convergence" of views on defence cooperation after Fernandes's visit to the US, Blackwill said that follow-up measures were being taken on the release of 20 arms sales licences to India.

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