US Defense Secretary Robert Gates in India for 2-day visit

Mr Gates visits India at a time when the region is witnessing one of the worst terror spells. Kabul erupted in flames on Monday and Pakistan is not exactly walking the peace path. The US, therefore, looks upon India as a stabilizing force in this volatile region.

Mr Gates will meet with the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister A K Antony and Foreign Minister S M Krishna. Talks are expected to centre on bilateral cooperation in many areas including trade and regional security issues.

The prickly border issue between India and Pakistan is also likely to come up for discussion.

While the US is keen to see the two South Asian nuclear nations reopen dialogue, India is not comfortable with what it perceives as third party interference in India-Pakistan relations.

Dipankar Banerjee, director, Institute of Peace & Conflict Studies said: "The Indian side will raise a host of questions on the US relations with Pakistan; (related to the) supply of a whole variety of attack weapon systems to Pakistan, fighter aircrafts, armed helicopters, missiles and such issues.

"Indian interlocutors will ask Robert Gates as to how these weapon systems will necessarily further the counter insurgency campaign of Pakistan, which requires a different set of weapon systems."