National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met United States Defense Secretary Jim Mattis at the Pentagon to discuss the importance of the U.S.-India relationship and the role of both nations in cooperating to uphold international laws and principles.

"Democracies like ours need this sort of dialogue and we have had a strengthening of the relationship over the last several years," Mattis said in a statement after the meeting on Friday.

During the meeting, the Defence Secretary specifically applauded India's efforts to promote stability in the South Asia region, said Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, adding that both leaders reaffirmed their intent to build upon the significant defence cooperation progress made in recent years.

NSA Ajit Doval held talks with US Defense Secy James N.Mattis at Pentagon in Washington DC;Indian Ambassador to US Navtej Sarna also present pic.twitter.com/aBEJ7OHWlH

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"We share the values. We share the democracy. We all have the very common objective and interest, both for the region that I come from and also globally that's able to work together, share our ideas and thoughts and bring about some new innovative changes and improvements," Doval said.

USA: NSA Ajit Doval met US Defense Secretary James N. Mattis at Pentagon in Washington DC pic.twitter.com/837QKnzSSE

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 25, 2017

Mattis and Doval further discussed collaboration on a wide range of regional security matters, including maritime security and counterterrorism, Davis said, and the two leaders pledged to continue the strong defense partnership between both nations.