Our Correspondent / New Delhi
India’s Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said that defence cooperation was a central pillar of India’s multi-faceted relationship with the US. He said both the countries have agreed in principle to have a logistics support agreement that will be signed in the coming months.
Addressing a Joint Press Statement with visiting US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter here today, Mr Parrikar said the two countries will continue productive discussions on cooperation in framework of joint working group on aircraft carriers.
He said US Defence Secretary’s visit reflects Washington’s continued interest in expanding bilateral defence relations with India. Mr Parrikar said that New Delhi’s continuing concerns regarding terrorism directed against India was underlined during the talks. He said the US Defence Secretary emphasised eliminating terrorism and ideology and infrastructure that supports it.
US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter said that the US-India relationship is destined to be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century and that is becoming a reality.
He said, India and US have agreed on several complex exercises together on the naval front. He said the Logistics Support Agreement will enable both countries to work together logistically. On the Pathankot terror attack, Mr Carter said the perpetrators of the crime should be brought to justice.