India, U.S. holds National Security Advisor-level talks in Delhi

India and the United States Tuesday held National Security Advisor-level talks on counter-terrorism and strategic cooperation in New Delhi.

Sources said that visiting U.S. National Security Adviser (NSA) Herbert Raymond McMaster held discussions with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval, after calling on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the morning.

"The two sides discussed a range of bilateral and regional issues, including their shared interest in increasing defence and counter-terrorism cooperation," the U.S. Embassy said in a release to the media.

"NSA McMaster emphasized the importance of the U.S.-India strategic relationship and reaffirmed India's designation as a Major Defence Partner," the statement said, adding that the meetings were "productive."

McMaster arrived in New Delhi after visiting Afghanistan and Pakistan, where he held extensive talks with the political leadership.

"The U.S. hopes Pakistani leaders will understand that it is in their interest to go after terrorist groups less selectively than they have in the past," he said in an interview to Afghan TV channel ToloNews in Kabul.

McMaster's visit is the first by a top member of Donald Trump's administration to South Asia. Last month, Doval visited the U.S., where besides McMaster, he met American Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of Homeland Security, John Kelly. Endit