New Delhi, Aug. 20 -- India and Japan on Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to deepening defence and strategic ties, as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi held high-level talks in New Delhi.

The high-level talks focused on expanding defence cooperation, strengthening military interoperability, boosting defence manufacturing and enhancing maritime security, with both sides stressing the importance of a free, open and resilient Indo-Pacific.

Singh welcomed Koizumi on his maiden official visit to India as Japan's Defence Minister. He also expressed condolences to Japan following the devastating earthquake that recently struck the country.

"I express deepest sympathies and solidarity of the gover...