Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit here in November, National Security Adviser M K Narayanan discussed with his US counterpart Gen James Jones the preparations for the Indian leader’s trip and other issues of mutual interest.
“General Jones met with his Indian counterpart as part of the ongoing relationship that they have developed dating back to their meetings in London and also the General went to Delhi (early this year),” said Mike Hammer, spokesman of the National Security Council.
“The focus of the meeting certainly was trying to make excellent preparations for a successful State visit later in November. A wide range of issues were touched upon that reflects the strategic partnership between the United States and India,” Mr. Hammer said.
Prime Minister Singh is scheduled to meet Obama in the White House on November 24, the first state visit of the new US administration.
Without giving details of the issues that were discussed during their meeting on Monday, Hammer said it involved “a broad discussion” on a number of subjects of mutual interest and concerns.
The low-profile visit of Narayanan, which lasted for at least a few days, occurred just before the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton left for Pakistan along with Richard Holbrooke, Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan.
