Washington, May 12 (IANS) Two US and Indian think tanks, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and the Aspen Institute India, have announced the formation of the US-India Joint Group on shared national interests.

The group, composed of former government officials and scholars from both countries, is co-chaired by Robert D. Blackwill, former US ambassador to India and Henry A. Kissinger, former US national security adviser, and Naresh Chandra, former Indian ambassador to the US and chairman of India's National Security Advisory Board.

The group will provide policy recommendations in seven areas: the rise of Chinese power, the status of Pakistan, the future of Afghanistan, ongoing changes in the Middle East, opportunities for global and bilateral economic cooperation, joint efforts on climate change and technology development, and possibilities for defence cooperation.

Findings will be released following the concluding meeting in September.