Washington: Condemning state-sponsored terrorism, United States and India have agreed to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism operations and Defence.

"Global terrorism, state sponsors of terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction are the key threats to international peace and security. US and India are drawn together in an effort to deal with these new circumstances," a joint statement issued after the meeting of the US-India Defence Policy Group (DPG), said on August 7.

During the two-day meeting, US agreed to review the counter-terrorism equipment requirements for India, it added.

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who dropped in at the meeting, and his Indian counterpart Ajay Prasad, agreed that "Democracy, common principles and shared interests are the foundation of our new strategic partnership."

"President George Bush and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee have redefined the US-India relationship," they added.

Rumsfeld who dropped in at the DPG meeting, spoke of the strategic significance of India and the value of closer India-US Defence cooperation, a press statement issued by the Indian delegation said.

The group, led on the Indian side by Prasad and on the American side by Under Secretary for Defence Policy Douglas Feith, said that the US and India have continued to work together to enhance their capabilities to combat terrorism and increase inter-operability.

The delegations highlighted the importance of the ongoing series of joint and combined military exercises in building inter-operability between US and Indian Armed Forces and agreed to continue the interaction.

During his visit to US, Prasad also called on Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Richard Myers.

PTI