Date:20/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/20/stories/2007092055471200.htm

International

Come clean on ties with Iran, U.S. asks India

Washington: The United States has asked India to come clean on its military ties with Iran but New Delhi played down its concerns asserting that friendly relations with one country will not affect ties with others.

In remarks that has raised the hackles of the Left, on the back of the growing rift between the UPA and the Communist parties on the India-U.S. nuclear deal, the U.S. has said the onus is on New Delhi to explain its military relationship with Tehran.

The U.S.’s position was spelt out by Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Richard Boucher when asked to comment on apprehensions voiced by senior U.S. lawmakers on India’s military relations with Iran. “I think that some of the fears are exaggerated. Some of the training it turns out to be cadet level; some of the exchanges don’t lead to a lot...” “But I think it’s more on the Indian side to try to explain exactly what is and what is not going on in its relations with Iran,” he said at a meeting organised by the United States-India Business Alliance here. — PTI