Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee (R Front) greets his United States counterpart Donald Rumsfeld (L Front) in front of the building of the Indian Defense Ministry in New Delhi, capital of India, on Dec. 9, 2004. (Xinhua Photo/An Zhiping) The two officials held talks on bilateral military cooperation and international security Dec. 9. (Xinhua Photo/An Zhiping)

    NEW DELHI, Dec. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States is keen on strengthening its growing defense ties with India, which currently encompass a wide range of military-to-military exchanges and joint exercises, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Thursday.

    Over the past four years, we have had discussions, military-to-military exchanges and joint exercises. The bilateral defense tiesare strong and we intend to see them knitted together in the months to come, the Indo-Asian News Service quoted Rumsfeld as saying at a joint press interaction with Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

    Rumsfeld, who arrived here Wednesday from Afghanistan for a short visit, made the remarks after holding talks with Mukherjee.

    Both leaders characterized their talks as "excellent".

    "Today we discussed all kinds of things and I have invited Defense Minister Mukherjee to visit US for more discussions," he said.

    Rumsfeld also met External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh and will call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh later Thursday.

    Rumsfeld's visit comes at a time when the two countries are negotiating the second phase of what is called the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership, an initiative aimed at cooperation in the sensitive space and nuclear fields, hi-tech trade and missile defense.

    But India has expressed concern at a US decision, announced earlier this month, to sell sophisticated weapons to Pakistan, saying it would adversely affect the India-Pakistan peace process as well as growing India-US ties.

    India asserted Wednesday it would take steps to bolster the country's defense preparedness if the United States went ahead with the proposed supply of F-16 jet fighters to Pakistan.

    "We have cautioned US against such a decision," Natwar Singh told the Lok Sabha (Lower House of parliament).

    "I would like to assure members that in case of US arms supply to Pakistan, the United Progressive Alliance government will not hesitate to take steps to ensure that our defense preparedness is not compromised in any way," he said.

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