Accompanied by a high-power delegation of military leadership, US Defence Secretary Chu-ck Hagel?s three-day visit to the capital is aimed at ?nurturing? ties with India and pushing some of the pending deals.
During this visit, Hagel?s task is cut out for him: to explore and find a substantive agenda for US President Barack Obama?s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi next month. Three issues ? weapon sales, strategic cooperation and future co-production ? are the main areas of concern for the first defence dialogue with the Modi-led government.
During his three-day stay in New Delhi beginning August 7, Hagel will hold talks with Arun Jaitley and is also expected to meet National security advisor Ajit K Doval and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj.
He is also likely to call on Modi.
