US Pacific Fleet Admiral set to hold talks with Indian Defense Ministry officials

Commander of the US Pacific Fleet Admiral Harry Harris will hold talks with top Defence Ministry officials on Tuesday as Obama administration tries to 'rebalance' to Asia and the Pacific.

Defence sources said Harris, nominee for US Pacific Command, will hold talks with Navy Chief Admiral R K Dhowan and later call on Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

US and Indian official remained tight-lipped about what is on the agenda but they said the effort is to 'deepen the bilateral ties'. His visit comes just weeks after President Barack Obama said the US is 'primed to unlock' the potential of relations with India as part of its 'rebalance' to Asia and the Pacific.

He made the remarks while unveiling the his new national security policy on February 7, days after his second trip to India. Running into more than 30 pages, the National Security Strategy says that in South Asia, the US continue to strengthen its strategic and economic partnership with India.

"As the world's largest democracies, we share inherent values and mutual interests that form the cornerstone of our cooperation, particularly in the areas of security, energy, and environment," it said.

"We support India's role as a regional provider of security and its expanded participation in critical regional institutions. We see a strategic convergence with India's Act East policy and our continued implementation of the rebalance to Asia and the Pacific," the strategy said.