Global Security Newswire

The United States and India have held early discussions during the past two years on possible missile defense sales to help protect the South Asian state from its nuclear-armed neighbors, the Financial Times reported yesterday (see GSN, Feb. 27, 2008).

Indian Defense Research Development Organization specialists have observed two test-launches of U.S. missile interceptors, and U.S. and Indian experts have examined missile shield capabilities in computer-based exercises, according to sources at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.

“India is a partner of ours, and we want to provide it with whatever it needs to protect itself,” one U.S. official said. “This fits into the overall strategic partnership we are building.”

New Delhi might prove more hesitant as it pursues other costly defense initiatives, according to another U.S. official.

“I get the impression the scientists are quite interested, and that some in the strategic policy community … see this as a future tool in their kit bag," the second official said. "But India’s political leadership and its strategic community need to decide what their interests and threats are."

Such a deal "would have very serious political repercussions" in India due to widely held reservations about collaboration with the United States, said Satish Nambiar, the former head of a defense analysis group.

Indian concerns about its nuclear-armed rival Pakistan have raised New Delhi's interest in missile defense procurements. Tensions between the countries have risen following the November terrorist attacks on the Indian city of Mumbai (see GSN, Jan. 7).

A high-level Pakistani officials said Tuesday that Islamabad "will have to take countermeasures to respond" to any U.S.-Indian missile defense deal (Kazmin/Bokhari, Financial Times, Jan. 7).