US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said the strengthening of strategic relationship with India is not at the expense of others as he praised New Delhi for supporting the fight against terrorists in Afghanistan. “The relationship that we are building with India is not to the exclusion of other countries,” Mattis said.
“It is specifically designed for inclusion using a rules- based order that any nation that is living by the traditional rules of non-interference in other states in today’s age of anti-terrorism, they will not find this relationship in any way adversarial,” Mattis said in response to question. India, he said, has been a constant supporter of the fight against terrorists in Afghanistan.