M A I N   N E W S

Defence purchases to be linked to political support?
Satish Misra
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 30
The UPA government is actively considering linking high priced defence purchases with political support for the country like a permanent seat in UN Security Council.

Defence procurement can be a useful tool to promote the country’s trade and political interest, informed sources said.

It is not merely a financial deal but the country can always choose between different suppliers and can thus gain political leverage but a coherent and a long term policy would have to worked out, sources said.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that Siachen did not figure at all during the hour-long one-to-one meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York recently.

Confusion has arisen because Islamabad has been claiming that Siachen was discussed between Dr Singh and General Musharraf, sources said adding that there was no question of changing the policy on the issue.

India has been consistently telling Pakistan that the two sides should first delineate the area and prepare mutually acceptable maps before any talks on withdrawal of forces from Siachen glacier could begin.