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Senior American Congressman Frank Pallone urged the United States on Wednesday to support the sale of the Israeli Arrow Weapon System to India, saying it would 'further solidify the Indo-US defence relationship'.
"I strongly believe that the state department's support for the Arrow Weapon System sale to India would further solidify the new defence relationship between the United States and India," Pallone, also the founder of the Congressional Caucus on India, said in a letter to Secretary of State Collin Powell.
Strongly advocating the sale of the missile, Pallone said, "Arrow System was created to defend against short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles. Therefore, India's interest in this particular system is to improve missile defence, not offence."
"Our support for the sale of missile, built with American technology would definitely be a positive step for the relation between both the countries," he said asking US not to delay its stand on the sale due to the tension between India and Pakistan.
He said numerous US-India joint military exercises in the past few months had 'fostered a strong defence relationship' between the two countries, which share democratic interests and have been working together against global terrorism.
On reports that India is preparing to buy spare parts from the US for military equipment, including helicopters, jets and radar systems, Pallone requested Powell not to delay its supply as related sanctions were lifted in September 2001.
The sale of such equipment was initially delayed due to sanctions imposed on India in May 1998 after the Pokharan nuclear tests.
Related Report: Post report on missile sale not US view: India
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