India, U.S. to hold political-military dialogue

Washington:After a gap of nearly six years, the U.S. and India would hold their first political-military dialogue in New Delhi next week during, which the two countries are expected to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues.

Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew J Shapiro is travelling to India next week to head the American delegation for the first India-US Pol-Mil dialogue after 2006.

“Shapiro will hold talks with senior civilian officials on defence trade, counter-piracy, and regional political-military issues, as well as the recovery and repatriation of U.S. service members lost during the Second World War,” the State Department said in a statement.

In recent years, the U.S. and India have significantly broadened their defence cooperation, as demonstrated by their robust engagement in bilateral dialogues, military exercises, and personnel exchanges, as well as nearly USD nine billion in defence trade since 2008, it said.

“The U.S. and India are also working together as active participants in the 60-nation Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, and are both among countries contributing naval forces to patrol regional waters,” the statement said.