BROOKE BOND-Getting Out of Two-Wheelers

new defence relationship that is signalled by this visit. The defence aspect of Indo- US relations has been the least developed. According to "Foreign Military Sales and Assistance Facts", a US Department of Defence publication, the total value of US arms reaching India from 1950 to 1983 was $ 186 million. In addition, over seven hundred Indian military personnel underwent military training in the US. Interestingly most of these arms transactions occurred prior to 1971. This means that there has been precious little defence dealing between India and the United States since the Indo-Pakistan war. Rajiv Gandhi's visit has opened new possibilities of American involvement in Indian defence. He said as much in his statement after the American visit in late October. The new mood in Indo-Ameriean defence relations was exemplified by the package of initiatives unveiled in Washington during Rajiv Gandhi's visit. The most important of them were the decision to go ahead with the joint construction of a new Indian combat aircraft and the resolution of the disagreement over India's purchase of a new American super-computer. President Reagan made it clear that the stage is set now for "co-operation in the fields of science, technology and space which per: mits us with confidence to set ambitious new goals".