File photo of PM Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.
America's relationship with India and Pakistan is not a "zero-sum game", and the US has separate security interests with both the countries, the Pentagon said today.
"We don't view these relationships as a zero-sum situation," Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said at a news conference when asked about the ongoing military exercise between Pakistan and Russia.
"We have a relationship with India. We have a relationship with Pakistan, longstanding relationship. "And there are security interests that we share with Pakistan that we also have separate security interests we have with India. We'll continue to look at the relationships in that light," he added.
"So, that's the way we view this. It is not a zero-sum situation. We'll continue to have ongoing conversations, military conversations with the Pakistanis, particularly on the subject of counterterrorism, where we have a shared security interest. We will continue to foster a strengthening defence relationship with India," Mr Cook said.
Referring to the series of meetings that US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter has had with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, he said this is an important relationship, a growing relationship, and the one which US thinks is very important to the region.
"And will continue to be one that the Secretary (Carter) will be looking to develop in the months and years ahead," Mr Cook said.