Diplomats say the meeting was arranged to convey the importance Washington places on its relationship with New Delhi. The Bush administration announced the sale of F-16 fighter jets to India's rival Pakistan last month.

Mr. Singh told reporters that he and the president discussed Indian-Pakistani relations, but he did not say whether the talks touched on the F-16 sale.

Mr. Singh said India's relationship with Pakistan is "improving rapidly," and that U.S.-Indian relations "have never been better."

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was scheduled to attend the Bush-Singh meeting, is scheduled to have a working lunch with Mr. Singh later Thursday.