Washington: The United States is developing a deepening strategic relationship and enhanced military-to-military co-operation with India, which is key to stability in the region, a top US official has said.

"India is a very important country in the world. And it is a Democratic country... with which the United States has a lot in common. It is very important from our perspective and it will play a key role in maintaining peace and stability in the subcontinent and in the region," US Assistant Secretary of Defence J D Crouch said on February 13, referring to recent talks National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra held at the Pentagon.

One of the benefits of the end of the Cold War, he said, is the ability of the United States and India to enhance their military-to-military relationship as well as their general relationship.

Crouch said the talks covered a range of bilateral and regional issues. They touched on the situation in the subcontinent and in Afghanistan. They talked very briefly about Iraq.

"It was the kind of exchange of views that one would expect from two countries that are developing and deepening their strategic relationship," Crouch said.

PTI