Press Releases 2008

Statement on the Visit of Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff

December 4, 2008

New Delhi -- The Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, met today in New Delhi with senior Indian civilian and military leaders. 

The agenda included meetings with National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan, Minister of Defense A.K. Antony, and Chief of Naval Staff/Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman Admiral Sureesh Mehta.

Admiral Mullen offered his condolences India's losses in last week's attacks and reiterated the U.S. military's commitment to work closely with the Indian armed forces to combat terrorism in the region.

He thanked Indian officials for their restraint and their desire to cooperate with Pakistani officials in the pursuit of those responsible for the attacks. He also repeated Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's offer of U.S. assistance in the investigation. 

Admiral Mullen urged all parties in India and in Pakistan to collaborate against the increasingly sophisticated threat of militant extremism in South Asia.