Pakistan must act against 26/11 Mumbai attacks perpetrators: Kerry, Swaraj

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India and the US decided to take their counter-terrorism co-operation to the next level in view of the continued danger faced from terror groups and the emergence of the new global threat from the Islamic State.

At the conclusion of the dialogue, India and US issued a separate joint statement on counter-terrorism co-operation, pledging to fight terrorism together.

Swaraj said the joint statement reiterates commitment of the two countries on common approach against terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Haqqani network and the D-Company.

“We (India and the US) reiterate that the threat posed by al-Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, D-Company (Dawood Ibrahim), Haqqani network and other regional groups undermines stability in South Asia. And we call to Pakistan to bring to justice the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack,” Swaraj told reporters while reading from the joint statement.

“We (India and the US) strongly condemn the July 27, 2015 terrorist attack in Gurdaspur, Punjab, and August 5, 2015 attack in Udhampur,” she said of the terror assaults in India which were carried out by terrorists based in Pakistan.

Much accomplished at US-India S&CD. #USIndia relationship one of most important bilateral relationships in the world. pic.twitter.com/xRgWIXGBpT

— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) September 22, 2015

Swaraj said the joint statement states that the two countries are determined to fight terrorism to the end.

In response to a question, Kerry said the two countries are committed to bringing all their efforts together in this fight against terrorism.

Another significant outcome of the parleys coming just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with US President Barack Obama in New York next week was that both sides set up a new mechanism of dialogue between India’s Foreign Secretary and US Deputy Secretary of State on regional and global issues.

After the talks, Swaraj listed six key points as takeaways from the dialogue with the most important one being stepping up cooperation in fighting terrorism.

The two countries also decided to elevate the Secretary-level trilateral with Japan to a Ministerial-level. Kerry and Swaraj would meet their Japanese counterpart in New York next week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.

Responding to questions, both Kerry and Swaraj refuted reports that the India and US meeting was aimed at China.

“We spoke of India’s aspiration for greater participation in internet governance organisations such as ICANN and related bodies. We agreed to convene a Track 1.5 programme to further cooperation on internet and cyber issues in this regard,” Swaraj said.

“We recognise climate change as one of the most pressing challenges of our times. We have agreed to maintain close consultation in the run-up to the COP-21, the Paris Conference of Parties under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change,” she said.

Swaraj said the two sides are also looking at an early extension of the US-India Technology Safeguards Agreement to facilitate US satellite components on Indian commercial space launch vehicles for another 10 years.

“To sum up, we have had a most productive exchange of views today on bilateral regional and global developments. In our assessment the dialogue would drive forward the strategic relationship and advance domain specific bilateral functional engagement,” she said.

“I have also invited Secretary Kerry and his other Cabinet colleagues to visit India next year for the second round of the Strategic and Commercial Dialogue. We look forward to continuing our discussions with the US leadership,” she added.

Grateful to my friend and colleague @SushmaSwaraj and her team for joining us in another productive #USIndia S&CD. pic.twitter.com/pV3upou8QT

— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) September 22, 2015

US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker said remarkable progress has been made in the strategic and commercial ties, which would help realise the full potential of bilateral trade and increase it to $500 billion.

Pritzker welcomed the decision of the Indian government to purchase Apache helicopters from Boeing. This she said reflects Modi Government’s commitment towards ease of doing business.

In a tweet soon after the conclusion of the dialogue, Kerry thanked Swaraj.

“Grateful to my friend and colleague Sushma Swaraj and her team for joining us in another productive US India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue,” the top American diplomat said.

“Much accomplished at US-India S&CD,” he wrote.

“US India relationship one of most important bilateral relationships in the world,” Kerry tweeted.

Apart from terrorism, five other important takeaways from the meeting highlighted by Swaraj were — new mechanism of dialogue between India’s Foreign Secretary and the US Deputy Secretary, US reiteration of support for India’s membership of the four major multilateral export control regimes including the NSG, internet governance, climate change cooperation and space cooperation.