US military chief postpones India trip

Sanctions were imposed after nuclear tests

The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Henry Shelton, has postponed a scheduled trip to India because of commitments in Washington.

A spokesman for General Shelton said he had called his Indian counterpart, Admiral Sushil Kumar, to express his "sincere regret," and ask if the visit could be rescheduled.

General Shelton was due to leave on Wednesday on what would have been the highest level military visit since India carried out nuclear tests in 1998, prompting a reduction in military-to-military contacts.

Ties between Delhi and Washington have been growing closer, and India recently indicated its support for President George W Bush's controversial missile defence plans.

Regional realignment

General Shelton's spokesman said the decision to put off the trip had nothing to do politics in the region or sensitivities about visiting India and not Pakistan.

General Shelton: Commitments in Washington

He said General Shelton wanted to attend a series of meetings with Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld as part of a major defence review.

Pakistan was not on the original itinerary - although the Pentagon had insisted that was not intended to send a political message, but was due to scheduling difficulties.

Pakistan has traditionally had a closer military alliance with the US - but recently Washington has tilted more towards India.

Some analysts believe the Bush administration sees India as an important strategic counterbalance to a potentially hostile China.

Both India and Pakistan were subject to US sanctions after conducting nuclear tests in 1998.

The Bush administration has suggested it will review the whole sanctions policy.

The president's nominee to run South Asian affairs, Christina Rocca, said she thought they should be dropped completely.