India holding up posting of liaison officers at outposts

US Ambassador to India, Kenneth I Juster said on Wednesday that America's proposal for posting liaison officers at India and USA combatant commands was pending at India's end. He was speaking at an interactive session organised by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI).

"As a strategic decision to scale up Indo-US military ties, we have proposed posting of military liaison officers. The final decision in this regard has to be taken by the Indian government only," Juster said.

He said that the Indo-US cooperation in defense and counter-terrorism had been a major factor in the relationship of the two countries. "US defense companies are already investing in India, producing components for complex defense systems. Our defense technology and trade initiative, and the US designation of India as a major defense partner are designed to strengthen our defense cooperation, including opportunities for co-development and co-production," Juster said.

Referring to India's effort to build indigenous defence facilities and partnering with the US in defending the Indo-Pacific region, he said the US government would be more than ready to help. "We should put the same strategic lens on our economic relationship that we have applied to our defense relationship," he added and also pointed out that he did not think investment by US industrialists in India would be affected because of criticisms by US media on certain socio-religious developments in India.