In the run-up to Barack Obama’s visit, we are given an impression that India and the US are now equal partners, but Washington remains a big brother among these brothers in arms.

And the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), according to a section of observers, is more than willing to play the second fiddle. An indication to this effect comes from the report that the air chief and the naval chief have opposed two defence pacts that the US has been pushing for.

They have conveyed to the defence ministry that India does not stand to gain much from the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) and the Communications, Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) . Why, then, has PMO been pushing for these pacts?