A day after doing some plain-speaking with Pakistan on the issue of terrorism, US National Security Advisor Lt Gen H R McMaster on Tuesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed the situation in the region as well as Indo-US relations.

Describing the meeting, at which NSA Ajit Doval was also present, as ‘productive’, informed sources said they discussed security issues concerning South Asia and how the two sides could cooperate in countering the threat from the Taliban and ISIS to the unity of Afghanistan. Gen Mcmaster reaffirmed India's designation as a 'Major Defence Partner' of his country. He had a separate detailed meeting with Mr Doval later.

Gen McMaster is the first top US official to visit India after the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January. His visit to the region comes at a time when the security situation in Afghanistan has further worsened and relations between India and Pakistan are at an all-time low in the wake of a Pakistan military court awarding death sentence by dubbing former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav as a RAW agent. The visit is also important in the context of a proposed visit by Mr Modi to the US later this year at the invitation of President Trump. However, there was no word available on whether Gen McMaster had extended an invitation to Mr Modi on behalf of his President.

Gen McMaster, who was in Pakistan yesterday on an unannounced visit, had firmly told Islamabad to give up its policy of ‘selective’ action against terror groups. He had earlier visited Afghanistan to review the security situation in the embattled nation.

A PMO release said Mr Modi recalled his positive telephonic conversations with President Trump that reaffirmed the importance attached by both sides to the strategic partnership and to stepping up India-US engagement across the board. The NSA shared his perspective with the PM on the security situation in the extended region, including in Afghanistan, West Asia and North Korea.

During the conversation, they exchanged views on how both countries could work together to effectively address the challenge of terrorism and to advance regional peace, security and stability, the release added.

A statement issued by the US Embassy said Gen McMaster departed India after productive meetings with the PM, Mr Doval, and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar. He emphasised the importance of the US-India strategic relationship. The two sides discussed a range of bilateral and regional issues, including their shared interest in increasing defence and counter-terrorism cooperation.