Washington: India and US on Monday urged Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used for terror attacks against other countries. The two nations also agreed to strengthen cooperation to fight terror outfits such as Jaish-e- Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba and D-Company.
In a joint statement released after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump, India and US also called on Islamabad to "expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11, Pathankot, and other cross-border terrorist attacks perpetrated by Pakistan- based groups."
Foreign Secretary, S Jaishankar said counter-terrorism was a major issue that was discussed between Trump and Modi.
On the reference to Pakistan, he said the joint statement could not have been more explicit on the issue of cross border-terrorism being perpetrated by terror groups from the neighbouring country's soil.
"There was a broad and extensive discussion on Pakistan. On certain issues it was very detailed," he said, adding that there was a converging viewpoint of what is the problem and diagnose the problem.
In another strong reference to Pakistan, Jaishankar said there was an extensive discussion between the two leaders on terrorism, "what its epicenter is" and how it is affecting the region, particularly the South Asian region where India is located.
"It is not just an India situation. A lot of the discussions also related to what was happening in Afghanistan," he said.
Resolving to fight together against this grave challenge to humanity, the two leaders announced increased cooperation "to prevent terrorist travel and to disrupt global recruitment efforts by expanding intelligence-sharing and operational- level counter-terrorism cooperation."
The statement said that the two leaders committed to strengthen cooperation against terror threats from groups including Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, D-Company and their affiliates.
The two leaders recognised that terrorism is a "globals courge" which must be fought and terrorist safe havens rooted out in every part of the world.
Jaishankar said the designation of Hizbul Mujahideen leader Syed Salahuddin by the US as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist "is a strong signal coming out of the administration that it is committed to ending terror in all forms."
"We should take the step for what it is. It is fixing responsibility, highlighting the problem. There is a signalling out of it, it is focusing on a particular group and particular individual. None of us can really miss that message," he said.
The two sides also agreed to have a new consultation mechanism on domestic and international terrorist designations and listing proposals.
Modi and Trump welcomed the exchange of information on known and suspected terrorists for travel screening. "They further resolved to strengthen information exchange on plans, movements and linkages of terrorist groups and their leaders, as well as on raising and moving of funds by terrorist groups," the statement said.
The leaders affirmed their support for a UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism that will advance and strengthen the framework for global collaboration and reinforce the message that no cause or grievance justifies terrorism.
"They also pledged to work together to prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems and to deny access to such weapons by terrorists and non-state actors," the statement said.
(with PTI inputs)
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