Jaishankar condoles death of former US Defence Secretary Ash Carter

New Delhi [India], October 25 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday expressed his condolences after the passing away of former US Defence Secretary Ash Carter calling his death as a 'great loss' to not only his country but also to his 'many friends' across the world."Deeply shocked to learn about the passing away of former US Defense Secretary Ash Carter. He was great to work with and a strong supporter of our defence relationship. He was also a global strategist who was always thought-provoking," he tweeted."A great loss, not only to his country, but to his many friends across the world. My condolences to his family," he said in a subsequent tweet.https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1584921315844456449?s=20&t=FWNwULE8HWz_GbwE3_uqKAhttps://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1584921319506083840?s=20&t=FWNwULE8HWz_GbwE3_uqKA

Ashton Carter, the former US Defence Secretary, suffered a "sudden cardiac event" on Monday night in Boston, his family said in a statement, reported CNN.He led the Defense Department from February 2015 to January 2017, being President Obama's final defense secretary.He is survived by his wife, Stephanie, and his children, Ava and Will.While leading Pentagon, Carter oversaw the US efforts to combat the rise of ISIS in the Middle East, which included the deployment of US troops and the final years of US involvement in Afghanistan under Obama's presidency.Several efforts were made to expand the role of women in combat under his tenure. Also, it was under his tenure only when the ban on transgender people from serving openly was also lifted under his tenure.Carter was a recipient of the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, which is the highest award given to civilians from the department, on multiple occasions.At the time of his death, he had been a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School as the Belfer professor of technology and global affairs, and director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, CNN said in its report. (ANI)