US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel met Prime Minister Narendra Modi today as part his three-day trip to India that aims to improve defence and strategic ties between New Delhi and Washington.
During the meeting, Mr Hagel briefed Mr Modi regarding the US intervention in Iraq and President Barack Obama's latest announcement on the matter.
Earlier today, the US held two targeted airstrikes in Islamic State-held areas in northern Iraq. With the Islamic group posing serious threat to religious minorities and US interests, it was America's duty to prevent "a potential act of genocide," President Obama had announced.
The US has been sending humanitarian aid to parts of northern Iraq, where religious minorities have been trapped without food or water.
Mr Modi expressed concern about the deteriorating situation and its potential implications for the region, where India has vital stakes, reported PTI, quoting a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.
The other topics covered in the discussion included Afghanistan, the threat of terrorism in the Middle East and security issues in the areas comprised by the Indian and Pacific Oceans, said a communique from Pentagon press secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby.
On the bilateral front, the Prime Minister welcomed the continued US engagement with the new government. He also said he was looking forward to his summit-level talks with President Obama during his coming visit to the US in September.
It would be "not just as occasion to think in terms of what we can do for each other, but also an opportunity to see how the world's oldest democracy and the world's largest democracy can build a partnership for peace, stability and prosperity in the world," Mr Modi told the US Defence Secretary.
Underlining the importance of defence relations, the Prime Minister also expressed his desire to see further progress in the area of defence manufacturing, technology transfer, exercises and higher studies in the field.
Earlier in the day, Mr Hagel had met Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.