New Delhi: Advocating enhanced bilateral military cooperation, the United States today (Apr 30, 2004) said it would be happy if India's Defence procurement were broader.

"The US would be happy if India's Defence procurement were broader. That's likely to happen if our two militaries get to know each other, and work together. There are likely to be more military sales," US Ambassador David Mulford said at a luncheon meeting of the American Chambers of Commerce in New Delhi.

Mulford felt that enhanced Defence cooperation between India and the US and efforts at narrowing differences over the nuclear issue, would open new avenues for both sides.

Washington is of the view that as the strategic partnership matured into a comprehensive alliance, the US would be "open" to significant new commercial opportunities for both countries on the cutting edge of technologies for military and civilian nuclear use, and space exploration.

He said certain complicated issues relating to nuclear safety, high technology and missile Defence needed to be resolved. One of the reasons for this was India not being a member of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, he said.

He also said the US has not made any fresh request to India for sending its troops to war-ravaged Iraq. "We have advised them (Indian leaders) of the American thinking on the situation in Iraq."

The American envoy said the situation in Iraq would come under review after June 30 when an Iraqi interim Government will be in place in Baghdad, signalling a step forward towards the return of sovereignty to the Iraqi people.

India has stuck to its decision of not sending its forces to Iraq in the absence of an explicit UN mandate.

New Delhi has taken note of the unanimous agreement in the Iraqi Governing Council on the Transitional Administration Law signed on March 8 providing for a temporary legal framework to govern that country during the transitional period from June 30 till a definitive Constitution is in place by December 2005.

While welcoming the start of the process to hand over sovereignty to Iraqi people, India hoped that the scheduled date of transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqi people would be adhered to.