Visiting US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin held wide-ranging talks with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on bilateral defence matters ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to the US.
The split between the president and his Pentagon chief came amid heightened tensions with Tehran following a US drone strike that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force
In the meeting with US defence secretary Esper, Singh reaffirmed New Delhi's vision for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region based on a rules-based order and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The US administration has accused Iran of being responsible for the attacks, and the latter has denied the allegation.
Mattis had offered to stay in the job until February but will now leave on January 1 after Trump reportedly balked at media coverage of his exit.
He characterized the killing as not only a human rights issue but also a national security concern for nations in the Middle East.
China has also stepped up its military drills in Taiwan straits to pressure Taiwan, which it claims is part of the mainland China.
"We'll provide whatever support the Department of Homeland Security needs".
US Defence Secretary James Mattis arrived in the Afghan capital on Tuesday on a surprise visit to meet Afghan authorities…
US Defence Secretary James Mattis, who has said that Washington needs “to try one more time” to get Islamabad to…
