India and US are likely to sign their new 10-year defence framework agreement during the visit of US President Barack Obama later this month, defence minister Manohar Parrikar said on Monday, adding t
India and US are likely to sign their new 10-year defence framework agreement during the visit of US President Barack Obama later this month, defence minister Manohar Parrikar said on Monday, adding that the strengthening of the existing framework and enhancement of its scope was going to be “definitely beneficial” for India.
Speaking to a TV channel, he also fielded questions on the recent terror boat controversy.
According to news agency reports, when told that the occupants had in that case chosen a very painful death (if they had blown themselves up along with the boat), Mr Parrikar was quoted by the reports as telling the TV channel, “How do you know They can take a cyanide pill and then burn the boat”. He reportedly indicated that the means by which the occupants committed suicide was not known, saying, “Fire on the boat does not mean that was the way they killed themselves.”
On the signing of the proposed defence agreement with the US, the defence minister was quoted as telling the TV channel, “This (the signing of the agreement) is one of the possibilities... These are issues which are in the spectrum, or horizon.” However, the minister stated that the issue will be decided by the Prime Minister’s Office. Asked if he welcomes such a framework, Mr Parrikar said, “I think strengthening our ties with the US, with the already existing framework enhancing its scope, is definitely beneficial to the country.”
