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India and US sign defense accord | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Washington- India and US have signed a 10-year agreement to strengthen defense ties between the two countries.

The landmark agreement will help facilitate joint weapons production, co-operation on missile defense and the transfer of technology.

Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee and US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld signed the agreement.

&#34The United States and India have entered a new era,&#34 a statement issued after the signing of the agreement in Washington said.

&#34We are transforming our relationship to reflect our common principles and shared national interests.&#34

According to AFP news agency, the statement said the ministers agreed to set up a &#34defense procurement and production ”group” to oversee defense trade, as well as prospects for co-production and technology collaboration&#34.

The statement said that the two nations had advanced to &#34unprecedented levels of cooperation&#34.

The defense pact came ahead of a three-day visit by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the US in July.