TEHRAN, Apr. 27 (MNA) – Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani says the promotion of Iran's defense and military cooperation with India can help improve security and stability in the region.

In a meeting with Indian Defense Secretary Giridhar Aramane in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Friday, Ashtiani said the two countries are located in a strategic region, Press TV reported.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 21st session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers.

"Numerous capacities of cooperation between Tehran and New Delhi can be used to establish peace and security in the sensitive West Asia region and the Indian subcontinent," he added.

The Iranian defense chief emphasized that Tehran and New Delhi must strengthen cooperation to prevent the resurgence of the Daesh terrorist group, urging both sides to hold more consultations about the developments in Afghanistan.

The Indian defense secretary, for his part, voiced his condolences over the killing of Iranian military advisors in Syria and stressed the importance of increasing security and peace in the region.

Aramane called for the development of bilateral cooperation in maritime fields, participation in naval exercises, defense research and education as well as exchange of university students.

In February, Iran’s Navy dispatched its domestically designed and manufactured Dena destroyer to India to participate in the Milan 2024 multilateral naval exercise, which is the Indian Navy’s biggest-ever maneuver.

MNA