New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on October 5 cleared procurement of certain vital Defence-related equipment and is understood to have also purchased Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs) for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

"We had some Defence related procurement decision to be taken which the CCS has taken," External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha told reporters after a 90-minute CCS meeting presided over Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Sinha, however, did not give details of the Defence-related equipment to be purchased for the armed forces.

Asked specifically if the AJT issue figured at the meeting, he said, "I can't go into details. One way or the other I am not in a position to respond."

Government has been negotiating with British Aerospace purchase of 66 AJTs for advanced training of IAF pilots. The purchase of AJTs has been hanging fire for last 18 years despite repeated pleas of the IAF, which has suffered a large number of MiG- 21 fighter aircraft crashes because of absence of an advanced jet trainer.

Air Chief S Krishnaswamy had said last week in Pune that the AJT deal would be concluded by the end of the current financial year. The Czech AJT (L159) has also been evaluated by the IAF, he had said.

The CCS is also believed to have discussed purchase of communication equipment for the Army, expansion of the Vizag airport and providing housing facility for armed forces personnel.

The meeting was attended among others by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, Defence Minister George Fernandes, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh, National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra and the three service chiefs.

Replying to questions, Sinha said that the alleged violation of Indian airspace in West Bengal by an intruding aircraft and upgradation of deep penetration Jaguar fighter aircrafts did not figure in the meeting.

PTI