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NEW DELHI, Feb 26: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, starting his first visit to India on Tuesday, said he was hopeful that India would clear the civil nuclear deal paving the way for Washington to take it forward.

“We are certainly hopeful that India can get done what it needs to, so that we can get done what needs to be done,” Mr Gates told reporters after his arrival here on a two-day visit.

Speculation is rife that Mr Gates will be offering the Indian Navy the soon-to-be decommissioned USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier if the Indian Navy agrees to purchase 65 of the newest model Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to be operated off of it.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is expecting to purchase almost 130 new fighter aircraft, with Boeing and RSK-MiG both in the field of six contenders. A comment reported from Tuesday’s interaction in Delhi saying that Mr Gates “made it clear that India and the US military-to-military ties will continue independent of the civil nuclear agreement” may hold the key to the high pressure parleys between the two sides.

Reports said Mr Gates had sought a meeting with Sonia Gandhi. The defence secretary, leading a 50-member delegation, made it clear that his visit was focussed on enhancing military trade and military ties with India.