US wants security pact for sharing technology with India's private sector

Washington is asking New Delhi to sign an annexure to GSOMIA that would cover the Indian private sector

In New Delhi, on December 4, an official from the US Department of Defence (Pentagon) displayed photographs that convincingly documented China’s theft of design information relating to America’s most secret defence systems — fifth-generation fighter aircraft and advanced unmanned aerial vehicles.

His purpose: To explain to the audience of Indian and US military, defence ministry, and industry honchos why New Delhi was being asked to sign an agreement binding the Indian private sector to safeguard information it receives relating to American defence equipment. One such agreement, termed “General Security of Military Information Agreement” (GSOMIA), was signed on January 17, 2002,