Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is likely to bring up the issue of cross-border terrorism supported by Pakistan and discuss India’s stand on the Middle East and Afghanistan when he meets the United States Secretary of Defence later this week. PTI reported that defence sources stated that Parrikar will meet Ashton Carter on December 9 and 10, and will tell the US that its “policy of engaging Pakistan” is not working. American military and foreign policy in Afghanistan and the Middle East will also be broached, as India is said to be concerned about US policy in the Middle East and the rise of the Islamic State in the region.

Parrikar will also discuss India’s concerns about Pakistan threatening to use nuclear weapons against India. The two defence heads will discuss possible programmes under the Make in India initiative as well, and are expected to take forward the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative, which will lead to further collaboration in developing military technology. Parrikar, who is in the US on his first trip as defence minister, will also visit the Hawaii-based US Pacific Command, which looks at defence in China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and Vietnam.