Ashton Carter had productive conversation with Manohar Parrikar: Pentagon

WASHINGTON:US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter had a productive conversation with his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar in Malaysia recently and is looking forward to hosting him at the Pentagon next month, his spokesman has said.

"It was a brief conversation, but a productive conversation, and the Secretary looks forward to seeing what areas of further cooperation can be put together between the United States and India," the Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters at a news conference yesterday.

Cook was responding to question about Carter's meeting with Parrikar in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of the ASEAN defense ministers' plus meeting last week.

"The Secretary had a very positive conversation with his Indian counterpart, and they talked about a range of security matters regarding India, and the cooperation between the United States and India moving forward," he said.

"I know the Secretary is eager to meet with the minister when he comes here in a few weeks to Washington, and expects to continue that conversation," Cook said.