India, June 4 -- Australia backs India's efforts to combat terrorism and the halting of military actions with Pakistan last month was "an act of Indian leadership", Australian deputy prime minister Richard Marles said on Wednesday, while outlining Canberra's plans to foster a closer defence and security partnership with New Delhi.

Marles, who is also the defence minister, is in India as part of a four-nation tour that has taken him to the Maldives and Sri Lanka. During an exclusive interview, he responded to a question on how Australia perceives China's backing to Pakistan during the recent clashes with India by saying both Australia and India feel China's massive military build-up has had "an impact on the strategic landscape of the Ind...