U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, left, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi, on Dec. 9. Their talks focused on bilateral issues as well as the situation in South Asia, Afghanistan and Iraq. (Photo: AFP)

NEW DELHI: The United States is “sensitive” about New Delhi’s concerns about Washington’s decision to sell sophisticated weapons to Pakistan, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told Indian leaders here on Dec. 9.

Indian leaders, including External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh and Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee, expressed the concerns in meetings with Rumsfeld, saying the U.S. move could adversely affect the India-Pakistan peace process and growing India-U.S. ties.

Defense Ministry officials, who did not want to be named, said Rumsfeld had said he was “sensitive” to India’s concerns when the issue was raised at his meeting with Mukherjee.

“General concern was expressed from our side on repercussions of U.S. arms supply on the ongoing India-Pakistan dialogue, currently poised at a sensitive juncture,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters.

U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, left, reviews a Guard of Honor during a welcoming ceremony at the Defense Ministry in New Delhi on Dec. 9.

He said it was also conveyed that the sale of arms could impact the positive sentiment and goodwill for U.S. in India.

The Indian side impressed on Rumsfeld that the arms sales to Pakistan could push New Delhi to take steps to counter any advantage gained by Islamabad through the acquisition of sophisticated hardware.

“It was also conveyed that it is difficult to see the relevance of the weapons to be supplied to Pakistan to the war against terror,” said an official.

The U.S. plans to supply sophisticated weapons like P3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft, anti-tank missiles and guns for warships to Pakistan under a package worth $1.3 billion to bolster the latter’s capability for the war on terror.

External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, left, with Donald Rumsfeld in New Delhi on Dec. 9.

The Indian officials noted equipment like the Orion aircraft had “no relevance” to the campaign against terror.

“We appreciate the U.S. actions in the war against terror, they help us. But the equipment supplied to Pakistan must be relevant and justifiable,” said an official.

The officials noted that Rumsfeld, the first member of President George W. Bush’s cabinet to visit the country since the U.S. elections in November, had made it clear that Washington perceived India as an “important nation with a larger global role.”

During the meeting with Mukherjee, the Indian side also made it clear to Rumsfeld that the terrorist-supporting infrastructure in Pakistan was still “intact.”

Rumsfeld, left, with Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Indian capital on Dec. 9.

The two sides also discussed arms procurements by India from the U.S. and military-to-military contacts, including joint exercises and training, which Rumsfeld indicated he wanted to “advance further.”

Rumsfeld arrived here on Dec. 8 from Afghanistan for a short visit, which provided an opportunity to review bilateral defense cooperation between New Delhi and Washington.

Besides Natwar Singh and Pranab Mukherjee, the visiting American dignitary also called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Manmohan Singh told Rumsfeld that India is willing to discuss all outstanding issues with Pakistan as long as Islamabad remained committed to implementing its assurance to check cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

The two leaders also discussed bilateral issues and the situation in South Asia, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Manmohan Singh agreed with Rumsfeld that a “return to democracy in Iraq and the strengthening of Iraq’s secular credentials would be in the interests of the people of Iraq.”

The prime minister said India would extend assistance in the ongoing reconstruction of a secular and democratic Iraq.