Ashton Carter had productive conversation with Manohar Parrikar: Pentagon

Carter met Parrikar in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of the ASEAN

Washington

: US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter had a productive conversation with his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar in Malaysia recently and is looking forward to hosting him at the Pentagon next month, his spokesman has said.

-"It was a brief conversation, but a productive conversation, and the Secretary looks forward to seeing what areas of further cooperation can be put together between the

United States and India,-" the Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday.

Cook was responding to question about Carter's meeting with Parrikar in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of the ASEAN defense ministers' plus meeting last week.

-"The Secretary had a very positive conversation with his Indian counterpart, and they talked about a range of security matters regarding India, and the cooperation between the United States and India moving forward,-" he said.

-"I know the Secretary is eager to meet with the minister when he comes here in a few weeks to Washington, and expects to continue that conversation,-" Cook said.