India will continue to buy arms from US, says govt

WHILE the tussle over the US imposing higher tariffs on India continues, the Defence Ministry on Friday denied a news report claiming that India planned to pause its arms purchases from the United States in response to US President Donald Trump announcing an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods.

- MAYANK SINGH @New Delhi

A news report published by Reuters claimed that India had put on hold its plans to procure new US weapons and aircraft. "The news reports on India pausing the talks related to defence purchases with the US are false and fabricated. It is clarified that the various cases of procurement are being progressed as per the extant procedures," Defence Ministry sources said.

The ongoing discussion between India and the United States includes those for Stryker combat vehicles and Javelin anti-tank missiles. Talks for the purchase of six Boeing P8I reconnaissance aircraft and support systems for the Indian Navy are also on.