In the midst of its high-pitch diplomacy to prod the Manmohan Singh Government to make the final push for clinching the nuclear deal, visiting US Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday also batted for expediting another agreement on logistics support.

During their discussions here on Wednesday, Gates urged Defence Minister A K Antony to conclude negotiations for early signing of the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) to move forward along the June 2005 Framework Indo-US Defence Agreement.

The 2005 Agreement envisaged development of a strategic partnership in the field of defence involving the three services.

Among others, arrangements under the agreement would provide the US armed forces access to Indian military facilities – naval bases, air fields among others. Like the nuclear deal, the proposed LSA is opposed by UPA’s Left partners. The US has made this agreement mandatory before the two sides sign pacts to ensure that weapons supplied by each other do not reach third countries.

During the talks, Gates also made out a case with Antony for early conclusion of another agreement on Communication Inter-Operability and Security Memorandum of Agreement which would facilitate inter-operability of military communication equipments during crisis situations. Antony conveyed to Gates that the Indian government needed more time to consider. “We will revert back to you,” Antony was quoted by officials as having told Gates.

Curiously, as Gates was here with a large delegation of American businessmen keen on striking big defence deals in India, the Defence Ministry put off the date for opening tender documents on the procurement of 126 fighter jets. The US has been lobbying hard with Delhi to get the nearly US$ 10 billion order for the jets to US bidders.