(Image source from: MSN.com)

Foreign Secretary of India Vijay Gokhale began his three-day visit to Washington on Monday to hold meetings with top United States administration officials and exchange views on major foreign policy and security-related developments, officials said. 

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Gokhale is visiting Washington in connection with bilateral foreign office consultation and strategic security dialogue with his American counterparts.

During his visit, Gokhale is also likely to meet with senior leaders in the United States administration and the U.S. Congress, he said in response to a query on the foreign secretary's visit.

The foreign secretary's visit to Washington comes in the backdrop of growing tension between India and Pakistan.

"Foreign Secretary is visiting Washington DC on March 11-13 in connection with the bilateral foreign office consultation and strategic security dialogue with his U.S. counterparts, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale and Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Andrea Thompson respectively," Kumar said.

"These are regular high-level dialogue mechanisms to review bilateral relations, exchange views on major foreign policy and security-related developments and coordinate respective positions on issues of common interest," he said.

Gokhale will also be meeting the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. “Secretary Pompeo meets with Indian Foreign Secretary Shri Vijay Gokhale at the Department of State,” the State Department said.

Tensions between India and Pakistan intensified after Indian fighter jets bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan on February 26 in retaliation to terror attack carried out in Pulwama on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy, killing 40 soldiers.

By Sowmya Sangam