US Air Force Secretary says Indian Defense Attache no longer has access to Pentagon
A top US Defense Department official has said that the Indian Defense Attache no longer has access to the Pentagon.
US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said at a reception hosted by India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu at India House on Monday on Independence Day that such a move is associated with the trust and cooperation that we share with India.
“As of today, the Indian (defence) attaché team no longer has access to the Pentagon, which begins with our close ties to India’s position as a major defence partner,” Kendall said.
“And if you don’t think that access to the Pentagon without security is a big deal, I can’t go to the Pentagon without an escort,” he said.
The Pentagon, the headquarters of the US Department of Defense, is considered one of the most difficult places to gain access to. Even US citizens cannot access the building without a high-level security clearance.
Kendall, who worked on India’s issues during the Obama administration, said then she desired to strengthen ties in the national security area.
“It turns out that India is the country with which we do more joint exercises than any other country, has a long close relationship and we have been able to build it and strengthen it over the years as we work towards integrated deterrence. work together in the region and around the world,” he said.
He said that the Defense Trade and Technology Initiative has grown over the years and continues to this day.
“We recently started a new cooperative program for unmanned aerial vehicles a year ago. We have been able to share technology and work together on several programs. So it has been a remarkable journey that I know Will continue,” he said.
