rediff logo
« Back to Article
Print this article

'False and fabricated': India rejects reports on pausing US defence talks

August 09, 2025 01:19 IST

Amid media reports claiming India may have paused talks related to new defence purchases with the US, defence ministry sources on Friday rejected the suggestion as "false and fabricated".

IMAGE: US F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft takes off during the Aero India 2025 at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru. Photograph: ANI Photo

It is clarified that the various cases of procurement are "being progressed as per the extant procedures", they said.

A report in an international media outlet which claimed that India might have put on hold its plans for new defence-related purchases, came amid growing tensions between New Delhi and Washington over tariff imposition by the US.

 

Last week, US President Donald Trump had announced 25 percent reciprocal tariffs on India that came into effect from August 7.

The US president on Wednesday also signed an executive order slapping an additional 25 per cent levy on India for New Delhi's purchases of Russian oil, bringing the total duties to 50 per cent, among the highest imposed by the US on any country in the world.

The additional 25 percent duty will come into effect after 21 days on August 27.

Indian defence ministry sources have rejected the claims made in the report.

The news reports claiming that India may have paused talks related to new defence purchases with the US, are "false and fabricated", they said.

It is clarified that the "various cases of procurement are being progressed as per the extant procedures," the sources said.

© Copyright 2025 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.