Top US General in India

America's highest ranking military officer and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace today held talks with the top Indian defence brass in the backdrop of growing military cooperation between the two countries.

Defence officials said there was no set agenda for the parleys.

Pace, who arrived here on a three-day visit, met Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee Admiral Arun Prakash and Army Chief Gen JJ Singh, and in a brief comment said "his trip was to familiarise himself with Indian military leadership".

Pace, who is heading a high level tri-service delegation, was given an impressive inter-services guard of honour

on his arrival for talks at South Block. He will call on Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and also hold discussions with the National Security Adviser M K Narayanan.

"There is no set agenda for the talks. Issues of mutual interest and cooperation will be the focus of Gen. Pace's visit," a Defence Ministry spokesman said.

The top US officer will be visiting Agra, a major Air Force transport base, and also tour the Paratroop training school and headquarters of Army's premier Western Command in Chandimandir near Chandigarh.

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Photograph: Sondeep Shankar/ Saab Pictures