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India-U.S. meet to discuss expanding air force ties

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 13. India and the United States will deliberate on expanding cooperation between the two air forces at a four-day meeting beginning tomorrow in Shillong, Eastern Air Command headquarters.

The two sides had marked a new chapter in air force cooperation by conducting joint fighter aircraft exercises at Gwalior in February this year. The earlier rounds of cooperation were limited to air dropping special forces of both countries and practising induction and extraction of paratroopers at several locations in India and the U.S.

A 11-member delegation from the U.S. air force arrived here today and will leave for Shillong accompanied by the Indian Air Force official delegated for the ninth Indo-U.S. Air Force Executive Steering Group (ESG) meeting. "We are going with an open mind and will evaluate American proposals on further enhancing our air force level interaction,'' official sources said.

"During the meet air force cooperation activities and a road map of future combined exercises would be discussed. The IAF considers the joint exercise as a milestone in Indo-U.S. cooperation and important from the view of training,'' said a news release.

The Indo-U.S. defence cooperation took an upward turn after the September 11 incident with both countries reviving the apex level Defence Policy Group (DPG) jointly headed by senior civilian officials from both defence Ministries.

Subsequently three ESGs, one for each service, were formed to implement the broad guidelines laid down by the DPG for furthering bilateral defence ties.

The two countries also revived or formed other joint committees aimed at furthering cooperation in allied areas such as defence research and development and purchase of military equipment.

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