The United States has pledged to collaborate with India on developing global approach to combat increasing terror threats and asked international community to take effective steps to eliminate sanctuaries and infrastructure that support terrorism.
After talks between visiting Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, a joint communique said the two countries also agreed to enhance bilateral co-operation to combat terror financing and currency counterfeiting.
"Today, threats transcend national borders, impacting the security and economic prosperity of the entire international community. We will continue to collaborate with India to develop a global approach to the challenges and threats we all face," Napolitano said on Tuesday in a statement after the conclusion of the Second India-US Homeland Security Dialogue in Washington.
Shinde led a high-powered Indian delegation for the dialogue, which was started in 2011.
During the meeting, Napolitano and Shinde reaffirmed the commitment of the two nations to work cooperatively on law enforcement issues, to combat common threats and improve bilateral cooperation through the development and application of innovative technology.
The two countries also agreed to combat the flow of illicit finances and currency counterfeiting, and to work closely to counter terrorism and promote cyber security, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
Both US and India plan to enhance cyber security and critical infrastructure protection engagement, increase training on countering illicit financing through Cross Border Financial Investigations Training Program, and share best practices and lessons learned in the context of megacity policing.
Napolitano and Shinde also agreed to identify areas in which India and the US can collaborate on science and technology development and its application in the homeland security context.
India and the US will explore areas in which to share best practices and lessons learned by both countries on how to enhance the ability of federal, state and local police to better detect, prevent and respond to acts of violent extremism, the statement said.
On the sidelines of the dialogue, top officials from both the countries held a number of sub-dialogues including megacities policing, combating illicit finance, bulk cash smuggling, and counterfeiting, cyber security and critical infrastructure protection, port, border, maritime, supply chain security, transportation, science and technology cooperation, and capacity building.
The two leaders also endorsed pursuing a robust, bilaterally-developed schedule of events and collaborative activities with the goal of meeting the security needs of both countries.
