India to host high level talks with U.S.

NEW DELHI, June 26 (UPI) -- India Friday geared up for a number of high-level talks with the United States as the two countries sought to strengthen their already close ties.

Gen. James Jones, national security adviser to U.S. President Barack Obama, arrived in New Delhi Thursday after visiting Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The visit comes as India and Pakistan are involved in efforts to restart bilateral talks stalled after the terrorist carnage in India's financial capital of Mumbai last November in which about 180 people died.

Prior to leaving Pakistan, Jones told a local television station the United States to the extent possible would be helpful with both its friends, the Voice of America reported. He added: "We have to make sure that we understand that the severity of the threats of extremism, of the possibility of another Mumbai-style attack cannot be allowed to happen."

Jones's India visit will be followed by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the end of July. U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns also visited India recently.

India's Economic Times has reported Clinton recently said she wants to "dramatically" expand ties with India and the United States would like to give India a greater platform to solve global challenges.

There is also talk of a visit by President Obama toward the end of this year. But in the near term, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may meet the U.S. President during the Group of Eight summit next month in Italy, the Economic Times said.