Bilateral talks reflection of converging India-US security interests, says US State Department's Nisha Biswal

Hailing the wide range of issues that were discussed during the bilateral talks between India and the United States, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs in the US State Department, Nisha Biswal, on Tuesday, said New Delhi and Washington had invested in each other's security as both nations had converging security interests.

Speaking to ANI, she said the healthy round of discussions between the two sides clearly indicated that US-India relationship was a deep and broad partnership.

"Many agreements were concluded in different sectors whether it is the defence sector, with the conclusion of the logistics agreement," she said.

When asked about the United States having recognised India as special defence partner and the impact it's going to have in the South Asian region, Biswal said both countries shared goals and objectives for security and stability in South Asia and across the Indo-Asia pacific region.

"It is a reflection that we have converging and shared goals and objectives for security and stability in South Asia and across the Indo-Asia pacific. So, the agreements that you are seeing on cooperation on counterterrorism, cooperation on intelligence and on defence technologies, is really a reflection that US and India are increasingly going to be cooperating in and invested in each other's security," she said.

The joint statement issued after the third major bilateral summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama, said under the arrangement, the U.S. will continue to work towards facilitating technology sharing with India to a level commensurate with that of its closest allies and partners. It also states that United States recognises India as a 'Major Defence Partner'.

Furthermore, on United States' support to India efforts in the renewable energy sector and agreements on civil nuclear cooperation, Biswal said it would serve as a boon to both nations.

"In energy and climate sector, many discussions were held on clean energy financing. Also, the breakthrough land mark agreements on civil nuclear cooperation, now that you see that westing house is so close to actually announce an application for building six reactors, which is going to be a tremendous boon for both countries," she added.

The joint statement said the United States supports the India's ambitious national goals to install 175 GW of renewable power which includes 100 GW from solar power.

The United States has also welcomed the launch of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). Both countries will jointly launch the third Initiative of the ISA which will focus on off-grid solar for energy access at the Founding Conference of ISA in September, 2016 in India.

The United States is committed to bring to bear its technical capacity, resources and private sector, and is jointly launching with India new efforts, to spur greater investment in India's renewable energy sector, including efforts that can serve as a model for other ISA Member Countries, the joint statement further said.

Earleir, President Obama thanked Prime Minister Modi for his government's support for the Defence POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) missions in India, including a recovery mission that resulted in the recent repatriation of remains of the United States Service Members missing since the Second World War. The leaders announced their commitment to future DPAA missions.