India and the United States have called on Pakistan to take “immediate, sustained and irreversible measures” to ensure that Pakistani territory is not used for terrorist attacks and to swiftly bring to justice the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the Pathankot of Pakistan. 2016.
The two countries also underscored the need for concerted action against all terrorist networks, including al-Qaida, the Islamic State, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).
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These issues were featured at the 17th meeting of the Joint US-India Working Group on Counterterrorism and at the third session of the Nomination Dialogue that took place virtually September 9-10, according to a joint statement.
Both parties denounced the use of terrorist representatives and strongly condemned cross-border terrorism in all its forms. They also exchanged views on threats posed by terrorist entities authorized by the United Nations (UN), the statement said.
The two sides underscored the urgent need for Pakistan to take immediate, sustained and irreversible measures to ensure that no territory under its control is used for terrorist attacks and to bring the perpetrators of such attacks to justice, including on 11/26 in Bombay. and Pathankot, ”the statement read.
The 2008 Mumbai attacks, which were carried out by a team of 10 LeT members from Pakistan, left 166 dead, including six US citizens.
Pakistani security agencies arrested seven men, including LeT’s operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, for allegedly planning, financing and supporting the attacks, but there has been little progress in their trial in a counter-terrorism court.
The 2016 Pathankot attack, attributed to JeM, targeted an Indian Air Force (IAF) base and resulted in the death of seven Indian soldiers.
During the dialogue, India and the United States also shared information on their priorities and procedures for pursuing sanctions and designations against terrorist groups and individuals, particularly in light of recent legislative changes in India, the statement said.
There was a joint commitment to strengthen cooperation in the exchange of information and other measures to interrupt the travel capacity of international terrorists, in accordance with the provisions and obligations described in Resolution 2396 of the UN Security Council (UNSC).
Officials from the two sides highlighted their efforts to address some of the world’s most pressing counterterrorism challenges, including combating the financing and operations of terrorist organizations, combating radicalization and terrorist use of the Internet, the cross-border movement of terrorists and the prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration of returning terrorist fighters and their families.
The two sides also discussed mutual legal assistance and extradition, and bilateral training and cooperation on law enforcement.
The United States reiterated its support for the people and government of India in the fight against terrorism.
Mahaveer Singhvi, Assistant Secretary for Counter-Terrorism at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MA), and Nathan A Sales, Counter-Terrorism Coordinator for the US Department of State, led the two delegations in what the statements they described it as a “far-reaching conversation about counter-terrorism cooperation.”
The two sides also resolved to continue close coordination on “this important element of the comprehensive global strategic partnership” between India and the United States.
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