“Kerry and I discussed at length the issue of terrorism, which is the key challenge to the worldwide community, and the foremost threat to global peace and security”, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said in a joint press interaction with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker after the conclusion of the Second India-U.S. He said terror groups like al-Qaeda, LeT and JeM can’t be fought by a single nation alone. “We agreed on additional measures to strengthen our counterterrorism cooperation, specifically, to work for early operationalisation of the agreement on exchange of information on known or suspected terrorists”.
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“I am happy to note that there was a meeting of minds on this issue”, she said.
The situation in Indian-ruled Kashmir and concerns over Afghanistan will be raised in talks on Tuesday with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and on Wednesday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a senior USA official said.
Kerry said he had spoken to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief General Raheel Sharif so that Pakistan deprives any terrorist group of sanctuary. “It’s clear that Pakistan has work to do in order to push harder against its indigenous groups that are engaged in militancy”.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker began two days of talks on Tuesday with the Indian government to boost business ties, and to encourage dialogue with Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir.
Kerry also addressed the issue of Pakistan and terrorism, and neither side minced words.
US Secretary of State John Kerry’s proposed visit to three religious sites in the city has also been cancelled as heavy rains lashed the national capital since morning.
“Strengthening Indo-US relations is a top priority for the United States”.
The deal has been held up in the past by concerns over India’s laws that would make U.S. companies liable for accidents at plants they helped build. Underlining the importance of ties with India, he said the USA is India’s biggest trade market now.
Kerry said that though India is the world’s fastest growing major economy, its red tape and lack of transparency continues to discourage entrepreneurs and foreign investors. This is perhaps in Indian DNA. “United States supports Modi’s plan increasing share of renewable power source”.
USA today assured India of “doing more” by providing it finances for innovative renewable energy projects while asserting that it is the “only way” of meeting the challenge of climate change.
India and the U.S. on Wednesday called upon Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack to justice. “Terror is terror no matter where it comes from, (or) who carries it out”. “We agreed that no nation should be allowed to have double standards on terrorism by differentiating between good and bad terrorists”, she added.
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Among the major projects India has completed in Afghanistan in recent times are a new wing of the parliament inaugurated during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kabul on December 25 last year and the reconstructed Salma Dam, renamed Afghan-India Friendship Dam, operationalised in June this year.
