Embassy of India
Washington DC

Press Release
India-U.S. Joint Declaration on Combatting Terrorism

Washington, DC
September 22, 2015

Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Secretary of State John Kerry on the occasion of the inaugural India-U.S. Strategic and Commercial Dialogue:
 
  • Reaffirm the commitment of India and the United States to combat terrorism in all its forms, which constitutes a profound threat to global peace and security, and to uphold our common values of democracy, justice, and the rule of law; 
  • Reaffirm President Obama's and Prime Minister Modi's vision to transform the U.S.-India relationship into a defining counterterrorism partnership for the 21st century; 
  • Reiterate the threat posed by entities such as Al-Qa'ida and its affiliates, Lashkar-e-Tayibba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, D Company, and the Haqqani Network, and other regional groups  that seek to undermine stability in South Asia; 
  • Call for Pakistan to bring to justice the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attack; 
  • Strongly condemn the July 27, 2015 terrorist attack in Gurdaspur, Punjab, and August 5, 2015, attack in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir; 
  • Recognize the serious threat posed by ISIL/Da'esh to global security and affirm  efforts to degrade and defeat this threat in accordance with the provisions of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2178, 2170, and 2199;  
  • Recall the signing of the U.S.-India Counterterrorism Cooperation Initiative (CCI) and establishment of the Homeland Security Dialogue in 2010, as well as India's membership in the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF); 
  • Recall the Memorandum of Understanding signed in January 2015 between the U.S. Department of Treasury and India's Ministry of Finance to enhance cooperation against money laundering and terrorism financing; 
  • Applaud the 15 year anniversary of the U.S.-India Counterterrorism Joint Working Group and the provision of Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) training for more than 1100 Indian security personnel since 2009; 
  • Recognize India's participation in the February 2015 White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism; and, 
  • Reaffirm their support for a UN Comprehensive Convention against International Terrorism that advances and strengthens the framework for global cooperation and reinforces that no cause or grievance justifies terrorism. 
Additionally, Minister Swaraj and Secretary Kerry Commend:
 
  • The continuing efforts to finalize  a bilateral agreement to expand intelligence sharing and terrorist watch-list information; 
  • The meeting of the U.S.-India Terrorist Designations Exchange in July 2015 to strengthen cooperation on domestic terrorist designations, including implementation of UN 1373 (2001), and on international designations pursuant to UN 1267/1989; 
     
  • The proposed next round of the Counterterrorism Joint Working Group in early 2016; 
  • The discussions on cyber security at the U.S-India Cyber Dialogue in August 2015 and continuing close cooperation on cyber security and information sharing; 
  • Progress toward India's entry into the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Global Entry Program; 
  • The inclusion of Mumbai in the Strong Cities Network, a forum to build sub-national resiliency against violent extremism; 
  • Continuing discussions on Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance; 
  • The U.S.-India Megacity Policing Exchange, an initiative to deepen collaboration on training and community policing between local and state law enforcement; 
  • Progress toward a Memorandum of Understanding between the Indian National Police Academy (Hyderabad) and the New York Police Department; 
  • The proposed next meeting of the Homeland Security Dialogue in early 2016. 
 
 *****

Sridharan Madhusudhanan

Minister (Press, Information & Culture)
Embassy of India
2107 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008
Tel: +1 202 939 7041 | Fax: +1 202 462 7276
minpic@indiagov.org | http://www.indianembassy.org
 

Website:    https://www.indianembassy.org/

facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/IndiaInUSA

twitter     :   https://twitter.com/indianembassyus