Persuading the divided coalition government in India to sign an end-use verification deal for defense supplies from America is seen as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's top diplomatic priority during her visit to that country.

The main opposition to such a deal reportedly comes from Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony himself, even though he is a member of the majority Congress party of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Reports in the Indian media say Antony could even stay away from the capital to avoid meeting with Clinton.

If signed, the pact will allow American officials to inspect any defense equipment New Delhi buys from Washington - even long after the shipment - to satisfy the Pentagon that they are not being "misused" by India's armed forces. Antony has been resisting severe pressure from the US to clear the deal, and may continue doing so.