Washington, DC – US officials welcomed visiting Indian counterparts here on March 29 to discuss counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries, resolving to continue close coordination on this essential element of the bilateral relationship, according to a joint statement.
The dialogue was arranged for the sixteenth US-India Counterterrorism Joint Working Group meeting and the second session of the US-India Designations Dialogue. State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism Ambassador Nathan A. Sales and Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretary Mahaveer Singhvi led respective inter-agency/inter-departmental delegations to discuss counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries.
In light of the recent lethal suicide attack in Pulwama district in which 40 Indian paramilitary police were killed, Ambassador Sales emphasized US support for the people and government of India in the fight against terrorism. “Both sides underlined the urgent need for Pakistan to take meaningful, irreversible, and verifiable action against terrorists and terrorist groups,” the statement noted.
The Counterterrorism Joint Working Group exchanged views on threats posed by international terrorist organizations and ongoing concerns over cross-border terrorism in the South Asia region. According to the statement, there was discussion of strengthening cooperation on information sharing and other steps to disrupt the ability of terrorists to travel, consistent with the important provisions and obligations outlined in United Nations Security Council Resolution 2396.
Both sides also highlighted their efforts on some of the world’s most pressing counterterrorism challenges, including countering the financing and operations of terrorist organizations, terrorist use of the internet, and prosecuting, rehabilitating, and reintegrating returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters.
The United States, hosting the meeting “welcomed India’s participation in international efforts to counter terrorism finance, and the two sides also shared information about their priorities and procedures for pursuing sanctions designations against terrorist groups and individuals.”
Tejinder Singh
Tejinder Singh is the Founder and Editor of India America Today. Follow him on twitter @tejindersingh.
