(Image source from: hindustantimes.com)

Ahead of the visit by the President of the United States Donald Trump to India, the countries of United States and India are eyeing for finalizing a raft of mega defence deals which included the procurement of a batch of military helicopters by the Indian Navy from the Lockheed Martin which is an American defence major at a cost of USD 2.6 billion.

Talks in order to wrap up negotiations on procurement of a missile defence system from the United States by India for USD 1.86 billion were underway says an offici8al source.

Boeing which is a defence major of the United States has indicated that considerations for offering its F-15EX Eagle fighter jets to the Air Force of India are being made while the country India is making preparations in order to receive Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

A licence from the authorities of the United States has been sought out the company in order to export it to India eyeing a USD 18 billion contract by the IAF for procuring 114 fighter jets.

Prior to the visit by the United States President Donald Trump, the sale of an Integrated Air Defence Weapon System to India (IADWS) has been approved by the United States at a cost that has been estimated of USD 1.9 billion.

The US Congress has been notified by the Trump Administration regarding its decision for supplying IADWS to India.

Ahead of the visit to India by Donald Trump who is the President of the United States an assessment had been sought by the four influential United States Senators who has described themselves as longtime friends of India regarding the human rights situation in Kashmir and also the religious freedom in the country .

A letter has been sent by the bipartisan group of Senators to Mike Pompeo who is the Secretary of the State which states that India has imposed the longest ever internet shutdown has been made by a democracy which had led to disruption to access to the medical care, business and also education for around seven million people.

The abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution has been made by the government of India on 5th of the August in the year 2019 which had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir and the curbs have been imposed including on movement of people as well as the internet connectivity and the services of mobile or telephone.

This crackdown has witnessed international criticism as several countries have expressed concerns over the situation that had been prevailing in Kashmir.

The international communities have been categorically told by India that the abrogation of Article 370 was an internal issue of India and the restoration of the mobile and internet connectivity is being done in a phased manner.

The US lawmakers who describe themselves as longtime friends of India had mentioned in a letter it has been more than six months after the government of India which is led by Narendra Modi who is the Prime Minister of India unilaterally revoked the autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir, the continuation of blocking internet in the region is still being done by the government.

The Senators had requested Mark Pompeo for a State Department assessment of several issues in India which includes the number of individuals that are detained by the government for the political purposes and their treatment and also the current restrictions on the communications in Jammu and Kashmir which refers to the current accessibility of Jammu and Kashmir and also the restrictions on the freedom of religion in Jammu and Kashmir.

The President of the United States Donald Trump is said to pay a visit to India on the 24th and 25th of the month of February.

By Shrithika Kushangi