India and the United States have announced plans to boost defense relations, after Washington unveiled plans to sell an undetermined amount of F-16 fighter jets to India's rival, Pakistan.
Under the agreement with India, the Bush administration is offering to increase missile defense and other security high-tech initiatives, as well as to expand economic and energy cooperation.
The accord was announced Friday, shortly after Washington said it would sell the fighter jets to Pakistan, in a major policy shift.
The United States banned the sale of fighter jets to Pakistan 15 years ago because of its nuclear weapons program. Officials say the ban was lifted because of President Pervez Musharraf's decision to stand with the U.S.-led war on terrorism.
U.S. officials say the administration aims to maintain the balance of power between India and Pakistan.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.
