NEW DELHI – India is likely to give its approval to a landmark militarycommunications agreement with the United States during high-level talks onThursday, two Indian government defence sources said, laying the ground forWashington to sell sensitive defence equipment.
A first source said the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement(COMCASA) was discussed in a meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’scabinet committee on security on Wednesday evening, hours ahead of ameeting between the defence and foreign heads of India and the UnitedStates.
“It will be a positive development tomorrow,” the source said, declining tobe named given the sensitivity of the matter. “It will definitely bereflected in the joint statement.”
A second government defence source said there was “high expectation” thatthe agreement would be signed on Thursday by US Defense Secretary JimMattis and India’s Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The agreement has also been customised to address Indian concerns, said thesecond source, who had been briefed on the matter. It would only apply toequipment that India buys from the United States and not open up the restof the Indian military to US communications networks, said the source.
A government spokesman did not immediately respond to a Reuters request forcomment.
Earlier this year, an Indian defence source told Reuters that New Delhi hadshed its opposition to the agreement.
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Indian and US officials have been seeking a breakthrough in the talks overthe COMCASA to expand defence cooperation between the world’s two largestdemocracies.
Under the agreement, the militaries of the two countries would be able tosecurely communicate with each other. The United States said the agreementis essential to extend defence ties between the countries.
India has historically been opposed to the agreement because it sees it asbeing too intrusive.
On Thursday, Mattis and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will hold talkswith India’s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Sitharaman for theso-called two-plus-two discussions in New Delhi.
“We hope we can find opportunities to continue to expand the relationship,not only diplomatic and military to military, but a good set of businessrelationships as well between the two countries,” Pompeo told reporters onTuesday, calling India the United States’ “only major defence partner”. -Reuters
