<span style="color: #222222;">US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said last night he discussed future steps need to be taken for India and US to work together more closely, during his conversation with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Esper, who took office last month, had his first conversation with Mr Singh over telephone on the 20th of this month. However, he did not divulge any further details of the call.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' Earlier, a Defence Ministry spokesperson in New Delhi had said that Mr Esper appreciated the central government's position that the recent developments in Jammu and Kashmir are an internal matter of India. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">US Defence Secretary also hoped that any issue between India and Pakistan will be resolved bilaterally, the spokesperson said. Mr Rajnath Singh had raised with Mr Esper the issue of cross-border terrorism and appreciated the US support for India's effort to maintain peace and stability in the region.</span><br />''  <br />