U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is visiting India and will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his two-day trip.
Panetta is visiting several Asian countries to reaffirm the U.S.’s role in the region.
“It’s only natural as India plays a more active role in the broader Asia-Pacific region, that we would partner with India,” a senior Defense Department official, who was not named, was quoted as saying in a news release.
Panetta is visiting with Indian officials to push them to play a larger role in the security situation in Afghanistan.
“India and Pakistan share an interest—the same interest we have—of peace and stability in Afghanistan,” the official added.
Last year, the United States and India jointly took part in more than 50 military activities, but Panetta would like to see them grow “larger and more challenging,” according to the release.
“There is nothing that we can’t discuss with India,” the official said. “We look forward to harmonizing our approaches with India and other countries in the region.”
