“It is vital that Pakistan join other nations in tackling these issues [terrorism and sanctuary for militants]”, he had said on Tuesday, seeming to tacitly support India’s position that peace talks and terrorism can not go hand-in-hand. Stepping up cooperation on counter-terrorism, India and U.S. agreed on a joint cyber framework and increasing intelligence sharing in fighting terror and brutal extremism.
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On the issue of tackling terrorism in the region, Kerry it is “clear” that Pakistan has a lot of work to do “in order to push harder against its indigenous groups that are engaged in terrorist activities”.
The US also fully backed India on its demand that Pakistan should act against terrorists operating from sanctuaries on its soil with US Secretary of State John Kerry asserting that his country “stands in strong partnership with India” against all terrorism.
In response to a question, Kirby said that he was not aware of any recent contact established between John Kerry and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif or the army chief General Raheel Sharif.
Ms Swaraj said she had thanked Mr Kerry for American support for India’s bid to join the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), a bloc of 48 countries.
“We must strike at the root causes of violent extremism and we have to work hard to understand the different variations of causes”.
In this connection, Kirby, in his briefing said: “We all recognise the continued security threat that is posed by the Haqqani network and other terrorist groups that operate inside Pakistan and along that border between Afghanistan and Pakistan”.
Kerry also cited cyber-security and energy as areas where both India and USA could expand cooperation.
Kerry said society which does not give equal opportunities to its citizens makes them a potential extremist or terrorist.
Kerry also met Tuesday with India’s national security adviser, Ajit Doval to discuss regional security and counterterrorism.
Ahead of the US-India-Afghanistan trilateral talks scheduled at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in September, Washington said it wanted New Delhi to continue its constructive role in Afghanistan.
US Secretary of State John Kerry and US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker held bilateral talks on Tuesday here with high level Indian officials on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual concern.
He said the enhanced cooperation between India and U.S. was to fight these non-state attackers, for which USA is helping India in modernisation of its defence, as well as in joint training.
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“They discussed progress in bilateral engagement since the Prime Minister’s visit to the United States in June, 2016”.
