Search the Internet          Tips

British defence secretary to arrive on Wednesday

British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon is arriving in New Delhi on Wednesday for a two-day visit intended at stabilising the South Asian situation and furthering Indo-British cooperation.

Hoon will arrive at 1630 hours at the Indira Gandhi International Airport and go straight into a meeting with his Indian counterpart, Defence Minister George Fernandes.

According to a Ministry of External Affairs official, the two leaders will discuss the military standoff between India and Pakistan and ways to stabilise the situation. Fernandes is expected to tell Hoon that contrary to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's assertion, cross-border infiltration is continuing, the official said.

Hoon is expected to discuss the issue of India buying Advanced Jet Trainers from the British Hawk.

Yogendra Narain, who retired as the defence secretary last week, had said that the AJT negotiations are in final stages. However, there are no indications that the deal will be finalised during Hoon's visit.

Hoon will meet Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha and National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra to discuss Indo-Pak tensions on Thursday.

After Hoon, it will be the turn of Sir David Manning, one of Tony Blair's key advisors who also enjoys tremendous respect in the American administration, to come calling on July 10.

An MEA official said India will deal with the British interlocutors "as importantly as we deal with the US leadership, because the two sides are coordinating their efforts in South Asia like never before".

Terrorism Strikes in Jammu and Kashmir: The complete coverage

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report