India and US agree on strengthening cooperation in International fora to fight terrorism

India and the US have agreed to deepen cooperation in international fora like the United Nations and the Financial Action Task Force to fight against terrorism.

 

Making a joint press statement in presence of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary of Defence James Mattis and Defence Minister Nirmala Sithraman after the conclusion of 2 plus 2 dialogue in New Delhi yesterday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the two sides agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation. She said counter-terrorism cooperation between the two sides has acquired a new qualitative edge and purpose.

 

Mrs Swaraj said, they underscored the International community’s scrutiny over the threat of terrorism emanating from Pakistan, which has affected India and the United States alike. On the issue of H1-B visa, Mrs Swaraj sought Secretary Pompeo’s



support to nurture the people-to-people links.

 

In his statement, Mr Pompeo said, The US will continue to cooperate with India in different areas. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement, COMCASA, was signed between the two sides yesterday. Secretary of Defence James Mattis said COMCASA will further deepen military to military partnership between India and the US.

 

In a joint statement issued after the dialogue, the Ministers denounced any use of terrorist proxies in the region and called on Pakistan to ensure that the territory under its control is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries. They called on Pakistan to bring to justice expeditiously the perpetrators of the Mumbai, Pathankot, Uri, and other cross-border terrorist attacks.