Logistics alliance with US will irk Russia and China: Congress

Asserting that the decision to share military logistics with the US would be detrimental to India's strategic interests and undermine the critical geo-strategic balance in the extended neighbourhood, the Congress Party on Thursday said that the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government do not have the national mandate to project India as a country, which is part of the larger operational designs of Washington.

Cautioning the government, Congress leader Anand Sharma said that it would also invite opposition and serious concerns from India's strategic partners Russia and even China.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government do not have a national mandate to push India to a situation where we are seen in a closer deeper military alliance and become part of the larger operational designs of the US in Asia, in Pacific and south China sea," Congress leader Anand Sharma told a press conference here.

"It would be detrimental to India's strategic interests, security interests and also would also undermine the critical geo-strategic balance in India's extended neighbourhood and the region," he added.

He said India has since the days of former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru always refrained from being drawn into any military alliance.

Former defence minister A.K. Antony earlier on Wednesday warned that if implemented then the decision would prove disastrous, while cautioning the government to reconsider their decision and not to buckle under any pressure.

India and the United States on Tuesday agreed in principle to conclude a logistics exchange memorandum of agreement and to continue working toward other facilitating agreements to enhance military cooperation and technology transfer.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter vowed their support for a rules-based order and regional security architecture conducive to peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean, and emphasized their commitment to working together and with other nations to ensure the security and stability that have been beneficial to the Asia-Pacific for decades.