US Secretary of Defence, Dr Robert N. Gates’ recent visit to India came when preparations for Republic Day included one of the most elaborate security arrangements in various states owing to the enhanced terrorist threats for disrupting this function as well one aimed at hijacking passenger aircraft. While no terrorist attack succeeded was because of tight security, there many attempts made by Pakistan Army during January 2010 to induct terrorists across the Line of Control and along the International Border running South of it.
 
What was a bit surprising about Dr Gates’ tone and tenor and comments during his visit was that they came shortly after a number of statements made by American leaders following FBI’s disclosures from its Headley – Rana investigation about these two and Pakistan’s active   involvement in organizing and exporting terror not only to India but other countries too and the fact that the US and India should work closely together to counter the same terrorists.
 
Whether one of the severest of terrorist attacks in Kabul in the past 9 years was timed of with  Dr. Gates visit to India or not, neither did it make him say what many American and other NATO military commanders have often said about Pakistan being the problem in Afghanistan nor did it prevent him from issuing yet another ‘clean chit from the US to Pakistan’. Propounding some fresh theories about the India-Pakistan problem in New Delhi, in Pakistan, he went further, saying  “we are very judicious in the sale of systems to India and have provided it with cargo aircraft and not weapons system”.
 
Accompanied by senior officials, Dr. Gates met Defence Minister AK Antony and Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar “exchanging views and perspectives on a number of issues including the regional security situation and global security challenges….both expressed satisfaction about the improvement in bilateral defence relations since the signing of the bilateral cooperation agreement in 2005. Both sides also expressed optimism about the prospects for enhancement of bilateral defence relations in all areas, including military to military interactions and in the area of defence trade. The two Ministers also discussed prospects for cooperation between both sides in the protection of the ‘global commons’(air and space)and in the area of maritime security and counter-terrorism” as conveyed in the PIB Defence Wing press release. 
 
However, this time the press release did extend appreciably beyond its routine brief by mentioning  some issues raised by the Defence Minister.
 
Conveying to Dr. Gates the India’s concerns about denial of export licenses for various requirements of the Armed Forces and also the inclusion of some Indian Defence PSUs and DRDO laboratories in the the US Government’ ‘Entity List’, Mr. Antony pointed out that such restrictions were anomalous in the context of the steady improvement in the bilateral defence relations between both countries. The US Defence Secretary responded to this by assuring that  President Obama’s comprehensive reform of US export control regulations, would in fact involve “facilitation in the supply of defence technology and equipment to India”.
 
Over the last two years, India has purchased over $3 billion in military equipment from the U.S., including eight maritime reconnaissance aircraft and six C-130-J Super Hercules transport aircraft. The two countries are moving toward completing their largest defense transaction yet – of about $2.5 billion - with India poised to purchase ten strategic airlift aircraft.
 
Mr. Antony further pressed that the bilateral defence trade relations between India and the USA  should move from a purely buyer-seller relationship to a more comprehensive relationship covering transfer of technology and joint production. While sources in South Block stated that some agreements were signed, but on the US Government’s proposal to conclude certain umbrella agreements like the Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement and Logistics Support Agreement, the Defence Minister averred that these would need to be assessed from the view point of the benefits which would accrue to India. 
 
The U.S. defence secretary, who also came to “take the temperature on India-Pakistan relations more than one year after the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror attacks in Mumbai” said that this gruop is affiliated to al-Qaida. His takes on them was, “a syndicate of terrorist operations under the umbrella of Al Qaeda has not only plotted to destabilize the region but provoke a conflict between India and Pakistan….I think it's not unreasonable to assume Indian patience would be limited were there to be further attacks,"  While no doubt new milestones have been crossed in the India-US relationship but its constantly playing the ostrich about Pakistan, even as it arms that country to its teeth with weapons and equipment which it is known will be added to the anti-India armoury is a bit much for  India to digest. 
 
Has Dr. Gates forgotten the FBI’s findings flowing from its laborious investigation of the two tricky Pakistani Americans “Headley” and Rana and their extensive research on and reconnaissance of targets in India and who knows how many other countries?
 
Does Dr. Gates not know about countless attempts continuing since mid- 2009 by Pakistani terrorists, including those of LeT, to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India, which have been actively supported by Pakistani forces firing across the Line of Control and the International Boundary ? 
 
While Indian support to Afghan, stated as “ideal”, came with comments “there are real suspicions in India  and Pakistan on what the other is doing in Afghanistan” and “the need of the hour” being developmental and humanitarian assistance with “full transparency”. One wonders if he is aware of a recent Gallup poll revealing yet again that the majority of Afghans prefer Indians help from India and not Pakistan. 
 
Dr Gates’ next stop was Pakistan where he was scheduled to meet top civilian government and military leadership with special focus on the situation in Afghanistan, India-Pakistan relations and the disputes between Pakistan and the United States over a host of issues, including US’ “new policy for Afghanistan ”. Pakistan has been quite sore about U.S. drone strikes in the country's tribal region, which Washington has no plans of halting. While a list of Pakistan’s defence requirements  was expected to be projected, the American Defence Secretary announced on a television network that the US aims at providing Pakistan its independent surveillance capability by supplying to it aircraft and drones.
 
Whatever “temperature” that Dr Robert Gates recorded of India –Pakistan relations over a year after 26/11, Delhi’s unusually severe cold and fog overstaying till late January blew some chilly wind on the parleys.
 
New Delhi has been wise in not yet signing the umbrella agreements as they must have all the requisite guarantees for India and should meaningfully be on a quid pro quo basis. And as clearly brought out by this daily more than once, America should be well aware of the risks of supplying arms to Pakistan which are not going to be used against terrorism but against India . And If that is American policy, shouldn't India be extremely cautious in looking toward America for its defence requirements and be more prudent to purchases  main weapons systems and their technology from Russia, Israel and France?