New Delhi, July 19 (ANI): India and the United States on Tuesday reiterated their commitment to further bilateral cooperation in defence, security and counter-terrorism.
The reiteration of cooperation in these spheres came in a joint statement that was issued by the governments of the two countries after the second US-India Strategic Dialogue that was held at Hyderabad House here today.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Indian External Affairs Minister S.M.Krishna led their respective delegations at the talks in which both sides referred to the Homeland Security Dialogue of May 2011 in New Delhi, and decided upon a program of cooperation in global supply chain management, megacity policing, combating counterfeit currency and illicit financing, cyber security, critical infrastructure protection, and capacity building and technology upgrading.
They reiterated their commitment to further strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation, including through intelligence sharing, information exchange, operational cooperation, and access to advanced counter-terrorism technology and equipment. The two sides had their ninth meeting of the Joint Working Group on Counter-terrorism in March 2011 in New Delhi.
According to the joint statement, both leaders also reiterated that success in Afghanistan and regional and global security requires elimination of safe havens and infrastructure for terrorism and violent extremism in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Condemning terrorism in all its forms, the two sides confirmed that all terrorist networks must be defeated and called for Pakistan to move expeditiously in prosecuting those involved in the November 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
The two sides reiterated their commitment on comprehensive sharing of information on the investigations and trials relating to the November 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
According to the joint statement, the two countries held cyber consultations on July 18, led by their two National Security Councils, at which they exchanged views on a broad range of cyberspace issues and coordinated bilateral cooperation on cyber issues.
The United States and India signed on 19 July 2011 a Memorandum of Understanding between our Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERT-IN and US-CERT) to exchange information on cyber attacks and mutual response to cybersecurity incidents, to cooperate on cybersecurity technology, and to exchange information on cybersecurity policy and best practices and capacity building and exchange of experts.
Both India and the United States welcomed progress in bilateral defence cooperation. The Defence Policy Group met in March 2011 and plans to meet again in early 2012.
The two sides noted India's defence orders from U.S. companies have reached a cumulative value of over USD 8.0 billion in the last decade. The two sides noted that these sales reflect strengthened cooperation. Both sides also affirmed their desire to strengthen cooperation through technology transfer, and joint research, development and production of defence items.
They noted progress in defence bilateral exchanges, exercises, capacity building, information sharing, including in the areas of counternarcotics, counter piracy, maritime safety and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief. They affirmed the importance of maritime security, unimpeded commerce, and freedom of navigation, in accordance with international law, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Both sides agreed to continue consultations on maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region in existing forums such as Defense Policy Group and its appropriate sub-groups. They also agreed to exchange views on promoting regional security architecture that enhances maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
The United States welcomed India's decision to chair a plenary of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia in 2012. (ANI)
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