Tuesday, September 26 2006 12:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: "Maintaining free and open access to the sea is an important and critical challenge and in this regard the navies of India and the United States are very closely aligned", said Admiral Gary Roughead, the Commander of the American Pacific Fleet.

Talking to PTI at the Washington Foreign Press Center, he said, "One of the reasons we have been very effective in operating together and looking to the future is because we see the challenges that we face on the Oceans, on the sea lanes and the importance of keeping those open".

The top American Navy official was recently in India. He said discussions with his counterparts were comprehensive that included future operations, exercises and exchanges. "I remain very impressed with the Indian Navy", he said.

There was a highly personal element to the Admiral's visit to India recently- he wanted to track down the house he lived in as a youngster in Mumbai.

"I went to visit my house and I found it. It was wonderful to go back even though I was a young boy. Many memories came floating back" Admiral Roughead recalled even while making the point that his former house is no longer in the remote area of Mumbai it once was.

"Mumbai has expanded so much. There is so much energy" he commented.

The Commander of the Pacific Fleet was all praise for the fashion in which the Malabar exercises were going and said that this series of exercises will not only continue but also look at the prospect of advancing these.