On August 16, US Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan visited India and held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. He also attended the India-US forum. As reported, the talks took forward the “deep convergences” in the India-US strategic ties, with both sides focusing on a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific – amidst the backdrop of China’s widening footprints in the region. The talks took place as the US reaffirmed that there was no change in its Kashmir policy.