New Delhi: India and the US Wednesday held talks in Washington on counter-terrorism and promoting regional security during which both sides committed to information sharing and capacity building.
The talks came amid a controversy over an alleged assassination attempt on Sikh separatist and American-Canadian citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is a designated terrorist in India. The US is currently investigating the role of an Indian official in the alleged murder plot.
The two delegations met in Washington DC to renew their commitments to countering terrorism and promoting regional security “as an integral part of their broader bilateral cooperation”, read a joint statement issued shortly thereafter.
There was no mention on whether the issue of Pannun or activities of Sikh separatists in the US, including attacks on Indian consulates, came up for discussion or not.
Elizabeth Richard, Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the US State Department and K. D. Dewal, Joint Secretary Counter Terrorism at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) led the delegations. This was the 20th meeting of the US-India Counter Terrorism Joint Working Group and 6th Designations Dialogue.
“Both sides reiterated that terrorism remains a serious threat to international peace and security. Countering terrorism remains an important element in ensuring prosperity and peace for Americans, Indians, and global citizens,” the joint statement added.
Last year, shortly after Canada accused Indian agents of playing a role in the murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia, the US Justice Department slapped murder-for-hire charges on US-based Indian national Nikhil Gupta for plotting to kill Pannun on American soil.
The US indictment, unsealed to the public, accused Gupta of entering into a ‘$100,000 deal’ with an Indian government employee to facilitate the murder.
Pannun heads Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a banned organisation in India.
In response to the US indictment, India constituted a “high-level” inquiry committee on 18 November in connection with the alleged assassination attempt on Pannun.
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‘Information sharing, capacity building’
During the 20th meeting of the US-India Counter Terrorism Joint Working Group, both sides committed to information sharing, capacity building and continued bilateral coordination to counter terrorism.
“The two sides committed to strengthening law enforcement and judicial partnerships in support of the rule of law, including through information sharing and enhanced cooperation on mutual legal assistance requests,” said the joint statement.
Both sides “reviewed emerging threats and tactics in terrorism, including the use of the internet and new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes, international movement of terrorists, terrorist recruitment, the financing of terrorist activities, and radicalisation to violence and violent extremism,” it added.
The two sides also called for the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot terrorist attacks to be brought to justice.
According to the statement, both sides exchanged information regarding priorities and procedures for designating various terrorist entities, groups and individuals. This comes at a time when Israel has been pushing India to designate Hamas as a terrorist.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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