(a) whether U.S. propose to have a military exercise jointly with the Indian Armed Forces;
(b) if so, the details of the programme chalked out in this regard;
(c) the reasons to go in for a series of exercises with US in Indian sub-continent; and
(d) the measures proposed to ensure that American military officers do not seek access to Indian bases and military infrastructure?
MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI GEORGE FERNANDES)
(a) & (b): As part of the India-US Defence Cooperation, exercises involving the Armed Forces of the two countries have been held in the recent past and are also planned to be held in future, both in the United States of America and in India. It would, however, not be in national interest to divulge specific details of the exercises planned to be carried out by the Armed Forces of the two countries jointly.
(c) The exercises are held both in India and in the USA on the basis of reciprocity. In this context, it is noteworthy that such exercises provide invaluable exposure to the Armed Forces of India and the experience gained during the course of these exercises serves as a vital input for upgrading the skills and capabilities of our Armed Forces.
(d) Adequate measures are taken for safeguarding our national interests while planning and executing such exercises.