India, US likely to sign pact to share terror database during President Obama visit

India would push for the agreement as it will help it to keep track on suspects involved in terror-related cases, said an official. “The Terrorist Screening Centre maintains a secret database and the agreement will be of great help to India,” said the official.

India could also be included in the US’s Global Entry Program (GEP) that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved low-risk travellers upon arrival in the US.

In September 2013, during the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit, the US had offered India GEP membership, which would benefit frequent travellers and businessmen the most.

“It was the US, which made the offer but there are lot of issues to be addressed on it. Whoever enrols in GEP, will have to undergo enhanced security checks that will not only pertain to security but also extend to Income Tax details. The verification will be periodic and the nodal agency here, which is yet to be decided, will have to also check if the person is involved in any financial crime case here or not,” said a senior Home Ministry official. The official said that once an Indian traveller has been verified, he could get faster clearance at 30 designated airports in the US.

“Though the agreements to be signed between the two countries during the US President’s visit have not been finalised yet, it would mainly focus on business and defence deals. There is still lot of work to be done on the GEP front like fine-tuning the responsibilities of the nodal agency that will carry out the verification process,” said another official.

Sources said talks have been going on between Indian and American officials over the past two months on these issues and there is a possibility of agreements being signed.