NEW DELHI: The United States and India, being the world's oldest and largest democracies, share a special bond of friendship. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's visit to New Delhi aims to further strengthen the US-India partnership, contributing to a more secure and thriving Indo-Pacific region, the White House has said.

Sullivan's trip marks the first visit by a high-ranking Biden administration official since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government assumed power for its third term.

During his visit, Sullivan met with Prime Minister Modi and his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval, on Monday. John Kirby, White House National Security Communications Advisor, emphasized that "As the world's two oldest and largest democracies, the United States and India share a unique bond of friendship, and Mr Sullivan's trip will further deepen the already strong US-India partnership to create a safer and more prosperous Indo-Pacific."

In New Delhi, Sullivan co-chaired the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), a significant partnership aimed at expanding strategic cooperation across key technology sectors, including space, semiconductors, advanced telecommunications, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, biotechnology, and clean energy.

Kirby refrained from commenting on the case of Indian national Nikhil Gupta, who has been extradited to the US from the Czech Republic for his alleged involvement in a murder-for-hire plot against Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. Gupta appeared before a federal court in New York on Monday and pleaded not guilty. India has stated that a high-level inquiry is investigating the evidence provided by the US in the alleged plot.

(With Inputs From Agencies)