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US is studying defence hike: AFP

The United States said on Tuesday it was studying the Indian government's budget proposal to dramatically increase its military spending next year, a plan that has already drawn concern from Pakistan.

State Department spokesman James Rubin said Washington wanted to inspect details of the proposed 28.2 per cent rise and listen to New Delhi's reasoning for its largest defence spending increase in a single year, before commenting on it.

"We don't have any details at this point and we want to get a full readout on the budget proposals and the Indian government's justification before reacting," Rubin told reporters.

He noted, however, that Indian officials had said the increase was made necessary as a result of heavy fighting with Pakistani backed insurgents in the Kargil sector of the disputed province of Kashmir last year.

Earlier Monday, Pakistan voiced concern over the proposed spending increase, saying it revealed "designs" to dominate the region.

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