Article Posted on : - Jun 05, 2016

WASHINGTON (PTI): Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his American counterpart Ashton Carter have discussed the progress made on "a wide range" of defence issues, including the importance of a "networked security architecture" for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific, the Pentagon said.

During their meeting in Singapore on the sidelines of the 15th Shangri-La Dialogue on June 4, the two leaders also reviewed the preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US next week.

"The two leaders exchanged views on the regional security environment, and discussed the importance of a principled, networked, security architecture to maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific," Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said in a statement on the fifth meeting between the two within a year.

"They also discussed progress made on a wide range of bilateral defence issues and committed to further efforts to expand defence cooperation between the United States and India," Cook said.

They agreed to continue close cooperation, he said.

India and the US have been increasingly working together and networking security, Carter has said, adding that India-US military relationship is as close as it has ever been.