"We don't know, the investigation is not complete. Two parallel investigations are on, they will be transparent about the results. I just don't know the results," US Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton B Carter told reporters here.
He was replying to a question on whether the personnel on-board US Navy's supply ship had issued any warning before opening fire. The Indian sailors who survived the firing have claimed that no warning was issued by the warship.
"I just don't know. We don't know exactly what happened. Obviously we very much regret the loss of life and injury... Its regrettable, any loss of life. But honestly we don't know what happened, we will not until the investigation is fully complete," Carter said.
Underlining the security environment in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), he said, "Obviously it's the dangerous part of the world, and we have real security concerns."
Carter was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a conference organised by Confederation of Indian Industries on the issue of improving the environment for joint cooperation between US and India.
The shooting incident took place on July 16 near Jabel Ali- 30 miles southwest of Dubai and an investigation is being carried out by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities.
Meanwhile, maintaining that outcome of the probe will clarify all doubts on the incident, US recently claimed that naval ship had forewarned the Indian fishermen before opening fire. (MORE)