US visit of Manohar Parrikar welcome sign of deepening defence ties: Ed Royce

WASHINGTON: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's just concluded US visit during which he held wide-ranging talks on regional and global security issues besides discussing terrorism is a welcome sign of deepening bilateral defence ties, a top American lawmaker has said.

Parrikar held one-and-a-half hour long closed door discussions with his American counterpart Ashton Carter yesterday during which the two leaders reviewed the growing bilateral defence cooperation.

Parrikar also made historic trips to PACOM headquarters in Hawaii and a nuclear powered aircraft career in his successful four-day US trip.

"Parrikar's visit to the US is a welcome sign of deepening US-India defence ties. As the first Indian Minister of Defence to visit PACOM, and with India set to rejoin the Rim-of-the-Pacific naval exercise next year, we are making necessary strides towards greater cooperation," Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said.

"Having participated in fleet week aboard the USS Cowpens in 2000, I had the chance to see firsthand the importance of our cooperation," he said yesterday.

"Now, as we look to confront the common threats posed by ISIS, Al-Qaeda and its affiliates and Lashkar-e-Tayibba, I am pleased that we are strengthening coordination," Royce said.