Entrepreneurs need the freedom to pursue new ideas “without a lot of red tape”, Kerry said in a speech at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. We both agreed that nations must not maintain double standards, such as the categorisation of good and bad terrorists, nor must they act as sanctuaries and safe havens for terrorist organisations. He met Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday and said America fully stands behind India in its demand that Pakistan punish the attackers of 26/11 terror strike in Mumbai and the January assault on the Pathankot airforce base in Punjab.
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Swaraj said Pakistan should withdraw safe havens provided to the LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad and D-Company.
Modi has said India would not bow to terrorism and accused neighbor and arch-rival Pakistan of glorifying it in his annual Independence Day speech on August 15, in which he also raised the rhetorical stakes by highlighting concerns about human rights in restive regions of Pakistan.
“I don’t know if you came in boats or amphibious vehicle of some kind”, Kerry asked, provoking laughter. “It can find roadmap for its own choices for tackling terror”, said Kerry.
He said, “In this age of information, people have access to immediate information”.
“Talks and terrorism can not go together”, she reiterated.
Swaraj also said Kerry had reiterated the continued support of the U.S.to India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
“And he talked about the constructive role that India has played inside Afghanistan and wanting to see that – see that role continue”. In addition to cooperation on the counterterrorism front, Kerry said that India is an “established power now” and the US’s biggest trade market.
Sitharaman said India and the USA have agreed to add a partnership in the travel and tourism sector to the existing work streams under the bilateral Strategic and Commercial Dialogue.
She announced that next year’s Global Entrepreneurship Summit would be held in India and it would be co-hosted by the U.S. He was here to take part in the 2nd India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue.
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The situation in Afghanistan will also be discussed, the official said, amid closer ties between India and Afghanistan, which is likely to aggravate fears in Pakistan of being wedged between two hostile neighbors.
