New Delhi, Oct. 10 -- Australian and Indian defense ministers signed a new bilateral security deal Thursday that Australia said upholds Indo-Pacific stability.

Rajnath Singh has become the first Indian defense minister to visit Australia since 2013, his Australian counterpart Richard Marles said.

"Australia and India are top-tier security partners and our defense cooperation delivers practical effects to uphold Indo-Pacific stability," Marles' office said in a statement.

Marles and Singh signed an agreement that included establishing a forum for joint staff talks between the two militaries and submarine rescue cooperation.

"The bilateral arrangements that will be signed today reflect the significant growth in our defense partnership a...