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Bush to visit India

Armitage told reporters after a 30-minute meeting with Vajpayee that he had delivered a letter from Bush to him, "in which the US President has accepted his invitation to visit India".

On whether the visit would take place this year, he said dates would be worked out through diplomatic channels.

Armitage said that the letter did not not "indicate any date for the visit."

He said Bush "is looking forward to discussing bilateral and international issues with the prime minister."

The United States virtually grouped Pakistan along with "rogue" states like Iraq, North Korea, Iran and Libya and said its proposed missile defence programme was to counter possible missile threats.

"We have questions about Pakistan. It is well known and even better known to you. These we refer to as hard cases," Armitage said.

Asked by reporters to specify countries he referred to as "rogue" states, he said "Iraq, Iran, Libya... they are well known as states involved in proliferation. You have some in this neighbourhood.

"North Korea has also announced that it would continue to export missile technology."

He said the programme has four facets -- non-proliferation, counter-proliferation, limited missile defence and US willingness to reduce its strategic nuclear arsenal "unilaterally, if necessary beyond the levels envisaged in START II."

On India's status in the missile defence paradigm, Armitage, said the plan "will make unnecessary some states producing their own missiles as a response to a threat from a neighbour."

Earlier, Armitage held in-depth discussions with National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra against the backdrop of Washington's statements on the proposed Missile Defence Programme.

"The Missile Defence Programme is not just to protect us, but also our friends and allies," Armitage told reporters after an hour-long meeting with Mishra at South Block.

He said he iterated President George Bush's proposals on the global security strategy but refused to divulge details of the issues discussed at the meeting.

The meeting was also attended by top officials of the External Affairs Ministry.

The Complete Coverage: The US Missile Defence Plan

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