New Delhi: Seeking to play-down India's concern over supply of arms to Pakistan, the US today (Dec 13, 2004) said it would like to be a "bigger supplier" of weaponry to New Delhi.

It also dismissed New Delhi's apprehension that the US move would have negative impact on bilateral ties as well as on the Indo-Pak dialogue process.

"The US administration is deeply sensitive to India's views on these matters," US Ambassador David Mulford told a group of reporters in New Delhi when asked about New Delhi's concerns over the Defence supplies that could adversely affect the positive sentiments for the US in India.

The US, he said, hoped that a "bigger relationship" with India could be created.

"We would like to be a bigger supplier of military equipment and weapons to India," he said.

India had said that the US move could have a negative impact on the composite dialogue with Pakistan and cautioned that it could set off an arms race in the region.

"I don't see why it should have a negative impact on the dialogue," Mulford said observing, "none of these things are particularly significant in the overall military relationship between the two countries".

The US envoy was, however, non-committal on supporting India's candidature for permanent membership of an enlarged UN Security Council (UNSC).

Washington was reflecting on the report of the committee set up by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on UN reforms and was awaiting a refined report from the UN chief by March, he said contending it was a "very complex area" and that the US would be "extremely careful" in enunciating its policy.