US secretary of state Rex Tillerson to hold talks with Modi, Sushma on Oct 24

US secretary of state Rex Tillerson will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on October 24, sources said.

A host of bilateral and regional issues are expected to be discussed during the visit of the top US diplomat who held a meeting with Swaraj on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September.

The situation in Afghanistan, stepping up cooperation in the India-Pacific region and counter terrorism cooperation would be among the top agendas during the discussion. US defence secretary James Mattis was in India recently to step up the strategic partnership in Afghanistan and Indo-Pacific region. President Donald Trump’s daughter and his advisor Ivanka Trump wil also be visiting India for Global Entrepreneurship Summit next month.

Modi and President Trump will be attending the East Asia summit in Manila, which could occasion another meeting between the leaders.