WASHINGTON -- Department of Defense Spokesperson Eric Pahon provided the following readout:

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin H. Kahl spoke with Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla today to reaffirm the strength of the defense relationship between the United States and India. India is the only designated Major Defense Partner of the United States.

The Foreign Secretary and Under Secretary underscored their commitment to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation to sustain a free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. The officials also discussed Afghanistan and a range of regional issues of shared interest, as well as key areas of defense cooperation across the Indo-Pacific and Western Indian Ocean region.

The Foreign Secretary and Under Secretary agreed to continue coordination on a robust set of shared priorities ahead of this year’s U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.