Indian defence attaché now has unescorted entry to Pentagon, says US Air Force Secretary

Indian defence attaché now has unescorted entry to the Pentagon, a high US Defense Department official has mentioned.

Such a transfer is aligned with the belief and cooperation that we share with India, US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall mentioned on at a reception hosted by India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu at India House on Independence Day on Monday.

“As of today, the Indian (defense) attaché team now has unescorted access in the Pentagon which is commencement with our close relationship with India’s status as a major defense partner,” Kendall mentioned.

“And if you don’t think unescorted access to the Pentagon is a big deal, I can’t get into the Pentagon without an escort,” he mentioned.

The Pentagon, the headquarters of the US Department of Defense, is taken into account one of the troublesome locations to get entry. Even American residents haven’t any entry to the constructing with out high-level safety clearances.

Kendall, who labored on India points throughout the Obama administration, mentioned it was a need then to strengthen the bonds within the nationwide safety space.

“It turns out that India is the country with whom we do more joint exercises than any other country, have a long close relationship and we’ve been able to build it up and strengthen it over the years as we work together for integrated deterrence in the region and around the world,” he mentioned.

The Defense Trade and Technology Initiative, he mentioned, has grown through the years and is constant to this present day.

“We recently just a year ago started a new cooperative programme for unmanned aerial vehicles. We’ve been able to share technology and work together in any number of programs. So it’s been a remarkable journey that I know will continue,” he mentioned.