India, U.S. Discuss Security, Nuclear Proliferation, Trade


WASHINGTON: Seeking to bring ebbing bilateral ties back on track, India and the U.S discussed maritime security and expanding regional trade in the Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor and beyond, administration officials said.

During the sixth session of the U.S.-India East Asia Consultations, top U.S. officials "conveyed their condolences" to the Indian delegation for the crew killed in Friday's crash of Indian Air Force's newly-acquired C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.

They noted that this is a sad reminder of the dangers India and the US service members face while protecting freedom and democracy, a state department spokesperson told a news agency.

The U.S. side comprised of Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Daniel Russel, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Nisha Desai Biswal, and Pacific Command Commander Admiral Samuel L Locklear.

The Indian delegation among others included Ambassador to the U.S., S Jaishankar, Joint Secretary (East Asia) Gautam Bambawale, and Joint Secretary (Americas) Vikram Doraiswami.

Later, Deputy Secretary of State William Burns met Jaishankar to discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues, and the Indian delegation met with Special Representative of the Secretary of State for North Korea Policy Glyn Davies, the state department spokesperson said.

"In all conversations both the U.S. and India affirmed their intent to extend our cooperation in and with regional and multilateral institutions," the spokesperson said.

"The delegations exchanged views on a variety of issues including maritime security, combatting nuclear proliferation, and expanding regional trade opportunities in the Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor and beyond," he said.

Earlier, state department deputy spokesperson, Marie Harf, said the U.S. is working with India on a whole host of issues.

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Source: PTI