Article Posted on : - Sep 09, 2013

WASHINGTON (PTI): A top Pentagon official has said the defence ties between the US and India has made tremendous progress under the Obama Administration and Washington was looking forward to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit.

In fact, defence ties are expected to be a major issue of discussion when Prime Minister Singh meets President Barack Obama at the White House on September 27, the official said.

"India is a very good friend of the US. Relations have continued significantly over the last decade. Under the Obama Administration we have been making tremendous progress," Peter Lavoy, the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, told reporters on Thursday.

"We are very pleased with our relationship with India," Lavoy said, who recently accompanied the Defence Secretary on his South East Asia trip.

Though Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel, who has been on the job only for a few months, looks forward to his meeting with his Indian counterpart A K Antony, he said.

"The defence relationship is strong and we are looking forward to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to the United States in which they would discuss a wide range of issues to improve relationships between the two countries," he said.