2+2 dialogue: India, US ask Pakistan to take immediate and irreversible action on terrorism

New Delhi: In a joint assault on terrorism emanating from Pakistan, India and the United States on Tuesday known as on Pakistan to behave on terrorism and never enable its territory for use for terrorist assaults. The joint assertion issued by either side after the two+2 meet within the nationwide capital requested Pakistan to “expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators and planners of all such attacks, including 26/11 Mumbai, Uri, and Pathankot”. 

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“The ministers called on Pakistan to take an immediate, sustained and irreversible action to ensure that no territory under its control is used for terrorist attacks, and to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators and planners of all such attacks, including 26/11 Mumbai, Uri, and Pathankot,” learn the assertion. 

The ministers denounced using terrorist proxies and strongly condemned cross border terrorism in all its types. An emphasis was made for the necessity for concerted motion towards all terrorist networks, together with al-Qaeda, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM).

It added, “They denounced the use of terrorist proxies and strongly condemned cross border terrorism in all its forms. They emphasised the need for concerted action against all terrorist networks, including al-Qaeda, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.”

Union Defence Rajnath Singh and Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar welcomed US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Secretary of Defence Mark Esper for the third annual India-US 2+2 ministerial dialogue. They reiterated their dedication to additional strengthening the India-US partnership, anchored in mutual belief and friendship, shared dedication to democracy, converging strategic pursuits, and strong engagement of their residents.

While celebrating greater than seven many years of diplomatic engagement between India and the United States, the ministers intend to broaden cooperation underneath the two+2 framework to understand the total potential of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.

Earlier in 2020, the 17th assembly of the India-US Counter-Terrorism Joint Working Group met nearly, adopted by the third session of the India-US Designations Dialogue on September 9-10.

Both sides have been exchanging info on sanctions and designations towards terror teams and people. After the Pulwama terror assault of 2019, the US together with India’s allies like France helped to checklist Masood Azhar as a worldwide terror on the UN. Azhar’s Jaish-e-Mohammad was chargeable for the 2019 terror assault during which India misplaced greater than 40 CRPF personnel.

They additionally dedicated to the continued alternate of details about sanctions and designations towards terror teams and people, significantly in mild of latest legislative modifications in India, in addition to countering the financing and operations of terrorist organizations, countering radicalism and terrorist use of the web, cross-border motion of terrorists, and prosecuting, rehabilitating, and reintegrating returning terrorist fighters and members of the family.

The United States will host the following 2+2 ministerial meet in 2021.

A shared imaginative and prescient for Indo-Pacific and Global management: The ministers reiterated their dedication to sustaining a free, open, inclusive, peaceable, and affluent Indo-Pacific constructed on a rules-based worldwide order, underpinned by ASEAN centrality, rule of regulation, sustainable and clear infrastructure funding, freedom of navigation and overflight, mutual respect for sovereignty, and peaceable decision of disputes.

Highlighting the significance of securing the financial and safety pursuits of all stakeholders having a authentic curiosity within the area, they welcomed the rising understanding of the Indo-Pacific amongst like-minded international locations. They reaffirmed that nearer India-US cooperation will assist shared pursuits in selling safety and prosperity within the Indo-Pacific area and past. They additionally emphasised that the Code of Conduct within the South China Sea shouldn’t prejudice the authentic rights and pursuits of any nation in accordance with worldwide regulation.

QUAD: The ministers welcomed the latest convening of the Second Australia-India-Japan-United States Quadrilateral Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo on October 6. They appreciated the alternate of views on regional problems with mutual curiosity, in addition to ongoing cooperation associated to maritime safety, humanitarian help and catastrophe aid, regional connectivity, well being safety and counter-terrorism. They additionally welcomed the truth that these Consultations would now be held yearly. They expressed their assist for additional strengthening Quad cooperation by expanded actions, together with initiating a dialogue among the many improvement organizations of associate international locations.

The ministers expressed their assist for sustainable, clear, high quality infrastructure improvement within the Indo-Pacific area. They regarded ahead to furthering collaboration between USAID and India’s Development Partnership Administration (DPA) with a view to enterprise joint tasks within the area. They welcomed the institution of a everlasting presence of the US International Development Finance Cooperation (DFC) in India this yr.

The United States expressed sturdy assist for the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) as a number one mechanism for selling regional financial improvement. Recognizing the necessity to include the build-up of sovereign debt in growing and low-income international locations by guaranteeing accountable, clear, and sustainable financing practices for each debtors and collectors, the ministers regarded ahead to exploring methods to cooperate underneath the Blue Dot Network. They additionally regarded ahead to the Second Indo-Pacific Business Forum (IPBF) to be held on October 28-29.

Building on a powerful report of peacekeeping cooperation, the ministers determined to broaden joint capacity-building efforts with associate international locations within the Indo-Pacific and to take part in multilateral peacekeeping coaching workouts.

The ministers mentioned their shared curiosity in selling a sovereign, peaceable, united, democratic, inclusive, steady and safe Afghanistan, together with assist for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace course of. They applauded India’s improvement help, and efforts to construct commerce linkages and multi-modal connectivity infrastructure for Afghanistan to reinforce its regional connectivity to maintain progress and improvement over the long run.

India’s non-permanent membership in UNSC: The United States congratulated India for its non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the time period 2021-2022. The ministers reiterated their dedication to work collectively in shut coordination at the united states and in International Organizations. The US additionally reaffirmed its continued sturdy assist for India’s everlasting membership in a reformed UNSC in addition to for India’s early entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

Advancing the defence and safety partnership: Noting the 15th anniversary of the inaugural US -India Defense Framework Agreement, they recommended what has change into a complete, resilient, and multi-faceted Major Defense Partnership (MDP) between India and the United States. They applauded the numerous step of the signing of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA). They additionally welcomed enhanced maritime info sharing and maritime area consciousness between their Navies and affirmed their dedication to construct upon present defence information-sharing on the joint-service and service-to-service ranges and discover potential new areas of mutually helpful cooperation.

The ministers reaffirmed their dedication to deepening bilateral defence session and collaboration and to exploring alternatives to broaden cooperative capacity-building efforts with companions throughout the area. They additionally affirmed their dedication to pursue elevated cooperation between the Indian navy and US Central Command and Africa Command, together with broader participation in workouts and conferences, in order to advertise shared safety pursuits. 

The Ministers expressed satisfaction on the ongoing progress within the implementation of Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) and Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), together with the enlargement of safe communications capabilities to incorporate safe video teleconference capabilities between their respective Navies, Armies and Air Forces in addition to between respective Foreign and Defense Ministries. The Ministers welcomed the convening of the Military Cooperation Group (MCG) later this yr to evaluation bilateral military-to-military engagement together with joint workouts, coaching and knowledgeable exchanges. They regarded ahead to the interplay between the Special Forces of India and the United States.

US-India-Japan MALABAR Naval Exercise: The Ministers welcomed the inclusion of the Royal Australian Navy within the US-India-Japan MALABAR Naval Exercise scheduled to be held within the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea in November 2020. Highlighting the significance of deepening maritime cooperation and the rising sophistication of US-India naval cooperation, the Ministers welcomed the PASSEX carried out by the Navies of each international locations. They additionally regarded ahead to the convening of the following version of the Tri-Services Amphibious TIGER TRIUMPH HADR Exercise and Army Exercises YUDH ABHYAS and VAJRA PRAHAR in 2021. The US. welcomed India’s co-hosting of the Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (IPACC), Indo-Pacific Armies Management Seminar (IPAMS) and Senior Enlisted Leader Forum (SELF) in 2023.

Defence industries: The Ministers determined to work collectively to understand the event of their respective defence industries. Acknowledging India’s contributions to the worldwide provide chain of main defence platforms and dedication to defence innovation, the Ministers reiterated the significance of Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) and said their intention to quick monitor tasks underneath DTTI. They famous with satisfaction the signing of a Statement of Intent (SoI) on the 10th DTTI assembly to strengthen dialogue on defence expertise cooperation on a number of particular DTTI tasks in addition to a DTTI Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for identification and improvement of joint tasks. India regarded ahead to the participation by the US Government and defence {industry} on the upcoming Aero-India in February 2021.

Recognizing the significance of cooperation in defence innovation, the Ministers welcomed the inaugural assembly between the Indian Defence Innovation Organization (DIO-iDEX) and US Defence Innovation United (DIU) in July 2020. They additionally regarded ahead to the inaugural Industrial Security Annex (ISA) Summit later this yr which might additional strengthen defence industrial cooperation between each international locations.

Strengthening bilateral India-US cooperation: The Ministers welcomed efforts to rejuvenate and broaden bilateral India-US commerce within the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this regard, they famous ongoing discussions by the United States Trade Representative and India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry to achieve an understanding on bettering market entry, eradicating boundaries to commerce, and bettering the enterprise surroundings.

The ministers famous with satisfaction the numerous strides made underneath the 4 Pillars of the Strategic Energy Partnership (SEP) protecting Oil & Gas, Power and Energy Efficiency, Renewables and Sustainable Growth. They additionally appreciated the progress made underneath the India-US Gas Task Force and the launch of industry-led tasks. They welcomed the announcement of latest priorities and roadmap for every of the Pillars through the Ministerial assembly of the SEP held on July 17, 2020. With the target of intensifying cooperation within the space of Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPRs), the Ministers welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on this regard.

India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement: Recalling the historic India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement, the Ministers welcomed the mission Division of Responsibility ideas between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) for the development of six nuclear reactors at Kovvada, and regarded ahead to the detailed Division of Responsibility that will pave the way in which for a techno-commercial supply. The Ministers additionally welcomed the extension of the MoU between the Government of India and the Government of the United States of America regarding cooperation with India’s Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP).

The ministers intend to reinforce their ongoing cooperation in multilateral fora, together with the UN. They additionally reaffirmed their assist for the early adoption of a UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) that may advance and strengthen the framework for international cooperation and reinforce the message that no trigger or grievance justifies terrorism.

ISRO-NSA collaboration: Recalling their international locations’ proud report of accomplishment in area science and satellite tv for pc utility, the Ministers applauded the continuing collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), together with on the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite tv for pc scheduled to be launched by 2022. The Ministers additionally regarded ahead to sharing Space Situational Awareness info, which can catalyze efforts to create the circumstances for a protected, steady, and sustainable area surroundings. They additionally expressed the intent to proceed the India-US Space Dialogue in addition to discussions on areas of potential area defence cooperation.

The ministers welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Technical Cooperation in Earth Observation and Earth Sciences between the Indian Ministry of Earth Sciences and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for growing a greater understanding of the regional and international climate origins within the Indian Ocean and advancing widespread analysis targets in meteorology, oceanography, and administration of residing marine assets. The ministers welcomed the signing of an settlement between India’s Department of Post and the United States Postal Service, which can facilitate the digital alternate of customs knowledge associated to postal shipments. They additionally applauded the signing of the Letter of Intent (LoI) between the Indian Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Ministry of AYUSH and the Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine, US Department of Health and Human Services.