AGENCY
New Delhi: The US on Tuesday “fully” backed India on its demand that Pakistan should act against terrorists operating from sanctuaries on its soil with US Secretary of State John Kerry asserting that his country “stands in strong partnership with India” against all terrorism.
Terrorism, more specifically that emanating from Pakistan, figured prominently in marathon talks between Kerry and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who briefed him extensively on the “continuing problem of cross-border terrorism that India and the larger region face from Pakistan”.
At a joint press conference with Kerry after the 2nd Indo- US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&CD), Swaraj said, “We reaffirmed the urgent necessity for Pakistan to dismantle safe havens for terrorists and criminal networks including Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and D Company.
“Secretary Kerry and I also agreed on the need for Pakistan to do more to bring the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai and 2016 Pathankot terrorist attacks to justice quickly.”
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.
Swaraj also said that they agreed that nations must not maintain double standards, such as the categorisation of good and bad terrorists, nor must they act as sanctuaries and safe havens for terrorist organisations.
On his part, Kerry said, “I made it very clear that United States stands in strong partnership with India against all terrorism no matter from where it comes from, no matter what form it takes. As I said there is no good terrorists, bad terrorists. Terrorism is terrorism.
“We stand fully behind the Indian demand that there be justice with respect to the Mumbai attacks, with respect to other. We have had conversation with all of the members of the region frankly about the efforts they need to take to curb terrorism that comes out of their countries.
“That is true of everybody. Anywhere in the world. I think it is crystal clear that US and India are exactly in the similar mind with respect to the issue of terror and the need to not only prevent it but to bring those to justice who perpetrate it.”
The two countries also agreed to boost their counter- terrorism cooperation by enhancing intelligence sharing, screening of terrorists, exchange of information on known or suspected terrorists.
They also agreed to continue to work closely to get terrorist entities listed by the UN system, by coordinating the approach to the UN 1267 Committee.
Countering terrorism an important shared objective: Parrikar
Washington: Countering terrorism is an important objective shared by India and the United States, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said here, while appreciating American support in India’s efforts to eliminate extremism in its neighbourhood. “We resolved to continue our cooperation on counter-terrorism. Our open and diverse societies are committed to peace. However, as the United States has shown, there can be no compromise when we are faced with terrorism,” Parrikar said at a joint news conference with US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter.
“The forces that seek to undermine our progress and our ways of life require our comprehensive and robust response. We appreciate the support from United States in our efforts to eliminate terrorism in India’s neighbourhood,” Parrikar said. Alleging that forces across the border are fomenting trouble in violence-hit Kashmir, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that “a small percentage” of people in the Valley are holding the majority to ransom.
He said the government is working “proactively” in handling the violence in the state.
“As far as Kashmir is concerned, the Indian Government has been very proactive in handling the violence which comes from across the border” Parrikar told Pentagon reporters at a joint news conference with US Defence Secretary, Ashton Carter on Monday.
“A few small percentage is holding the majority to ransom,” he added. Asked about the current situation in Kashmir, he said curfew has already been lifted and an all-party delegation is also heading to the Valley.
“Kashmir is actually having a government which is a democratically elected. And the chief minister belongs to the Valley,” he said.
“Secretary Carter and I agreed that countering terrorism is an important shared objective. The partnership between India and the United States is driven by our shared values and interests. This was underlined by the enthusiasm of the US Congress with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June this year,” Parrikar said.
