Indian FM Natwar Singh to visit US next week
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-09 14:14

Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh will pay a three-day visit next week to the United States aimed at further strengthening India-US ties, the foreign office said.

Singh's visit from Tuesday to Thursday was at the invitation of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, said Indian foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna.

He will be accompanied on the trip by foreign secretary Shyam Saranthe and the chief of India's Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) gestures during a news conference with India's Foreign Minister Natwar Singh in New Delhi March 16, 2005. [Reuters/file]

During a visit by Rice to New Delhi last month, the two countries agreed to expand defence and energy ties and cemented a strategic partnership on the trade of high technology goods.

The United States recently announced it was selling F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan while making a similar offer to New Delhi.

India has so far not accepted the offer, saying that details of the deal need to be discussed first.

The Press Trust of India news agency reported Friday that a US delegation was expected to visit India early next week to hold discussions regarding the proposal.

India, meanwhile, has expressed concern over the decision to sell the jets to rival Pakistan, saying the weapons could be used against India.

India has been Russia's long-time ally and 70 percent of its military supplies come from Moscow.

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