WASHINGTON: The Pentagon has had longstanding contacts with India on missile defence issues but is not in talks to sell it missile defence systems, a defence spokesman said.

"The United States and India currently are not discussing the sale of any US missile defence systems to India," said Lieutenant Colonel Stewart Upton.

The Financial Times, citing US embassy officials in New Delhi, said the United States was in preliminary talks about sales of US missile shield systems to guard New Delhi against nuclear threats.

A US defence official described the interaction with the Indians as being on "a very rudimentary level."

"We have invited them to observe two tests this year to facilitate discussions of the two countries' ballistic missile defence test programs," the official said.

But the official said the invitation was extended with the understanding that it did not signal "US intention or willingness to sell the systems involved."

- AFP/yb