"India's growing economic, diplomatic and military power makes them a key player not only in South and Central Asia but globally as well," Admiral Robert Willard, said in his confirmation hearing for Commander of US Pacific Command.

"A strong positive relationship with India is essential to achieving long-term US goals such as regional security and stability, reduced tensions with Pakistan, and wide-ranging cooperation to counter extremism," he said.

"We should continue to expand our military-to-military engagement to include multi-lateral partners and increasingly complex exercise scenarios that help to advance India's military capabilities," the Admiral said in written response to a question.

"In coordination with US Central Command, we will develop confidence building measures and events that help reduce India-Pakistan tension and support the greater US-Afghanistan-Pakistan Strategy," he said.

The Admiral said America's military-to-military relations with India are very positive and expanding. Both the countries view military-to-military relationship as the foundation of Indo-US "strategic partnership", he said. "Due to the wide range of shared security interests, accompanied with the increasing complexity and maturity of our engagement, this relationship will continue to expand," Willard informed the US lawmakers.

Currently, the two countries are engaged on many fronts including foreign military sales, advanced training such as MALABAR and RED FLAG, and real world operations such as counter-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden and US POWMIA recovery missions in northeastern India.

When asked how US engagement in Af-Pak effects does its relationship with New Delhi, the Admiral said India has voiced strong support for the US objective to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"While they voice their support, they also voice their concern that the US might sacrifice our strong bilateral relationship and its long-term benefits for the sake of an immediate Afghanistan-Pakistan campaign strategy," he observed.

"Our best course of action to allay Indian concerns while garnishing their overall support for our ongoing regional efforts is to continue to strengthen our bilateral relationship with India across all agencies of government, including mil-to-mil," Willard said.