Monday, August 8 2005 20:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Dismissing fears that the India-US defence cooperation is loaded in favour of Washington, the Government today (Aug 8, 2005) said it is an attempt at securing latest technology for Indian armed forces.

"The understanding between two countries to cooperate in multinational operations is bilateral and will be dependent on the consent of both sides. There is no obligation on India to send troops for operations where it does not want to," Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Rajya Sabha replying to a debate on New Framework on the US-India Defence Relationship.

He said India suffered due to the disintegration of the Soviet system and asked if, "We explore alternate sources of defence systems and technology, what is wrong in it."

"We should do that (explore alternate sources of defence equipment and technology). It is our bounden duty," Mukherjee said.

He said the defence agreement was within the framework of the country's foreign policy.

The Defence Minister said while procuring equipment and entering into joint production agreements, "We will seek technology for them so that whatever we buy we have support for it."

"We have brains to absorb the technology that will come from the US. It is not an empty promise," he said.

Mukherjee said the framework was nothing but the minutes of meeting between US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and him. "It is an extension of the minutes (of the defence cooperation) agreed in 1995 and which were reviewed in 2005," he said.