US aspires to have closer relationship with India: Dempsey

WASHINGTON: The United States aspires to have a closer relationship and greater engagement with India, a country geo-strategically located in the Asia Pacific region, a top Pentagon commander said today.

"We have for some time said that we aspire to a closer relationship and greater engagement with India," General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters at a Pentagon news conference.

"They are currently the second and depending on who you believe soon to be the largest country in the world. They sit at an enormously important geo-strategic location on the sea lines of communication from the Mideast into Pacific. And they're the world's largest democracy," Dempsey argued.

"We have for as long as I can remember been seeking greater engagement with them," Dempsey said in response to a question at his news conference.

At another news conference, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the US shares concerns with India on terrorism.

"We obviously share India's concerns about terrorism. We are committed to working with India on counterterrorism. We have a good, strong relationship with them," he said in response to a question.