New Delhi: India has assured Israel that it would not transfer any acquired military technology to a third country including Iran, Defence Ministry sources said on September 11.

The assurance was given by Defence Minister George Fernandes, as he called on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on September 10 night.

Tel Aviv, which is very sensitive about leakage of military technology developed by it, had in fact wanted New Delhi to extend a commitment to that effect.

A three-member Israeli Defence Ministry delegation, headed by its Director General Major General Yaron Meyer, had met Fernandes after holding intensive interactions with the armed forces and Defence Ministry top brass.

According to sources, other issues that figured in Indo-Israeli parleys included the fight against terror. The two countries are of the firm view that no action in pursuance of any political objective through violence is acceptable.

They said New Delhi should overcome its earlier inhibition to talk about growing Indo-Israeli defence cooperation.

PTI