India and the United States have agreed to hold bigger joint exercises next year as part of measures to enhance military-to-military cooperation.

The decision to have larger exercises was taken at the eighth meeting of the Indo-US army executive steering group, which met at the Southern Army Command headquarters in Pune on Tuesday and Wednesday, an army spokesman said.

Prior to the deliberations, the visiting US army delegation led by Lt Gen James L Campbell, commanding general, US Pacific Command, had an extensive briefing on defusing of improvised explosive devices, which are being used extensively by Iraqi rebels.

The delegation also visited the country's premier defence training institution, the National Defence Academy.

The spokesman said the steering group reviewed the interaction between the armies of the two countries during the current year, besides planning cooperation events in 2004 and the way forward for 2005.
 
The Indian side at the talks was led by Director General  of Military Operations Lt Gen B S Takhar.