Indo-US Strategic Dialogue:counter-terror coop to be discussed

New Delhi, May 30 (PTI) Taking a major step to further
deepen ties, India and the US will hold their first Strategic
Dialogue on June three during which they are expected to
discuss the situation in Afghanistan-Pakistan and ways to take
forward initiatives in "top priority" counter-terrorism area.
The Strategic Dialogue, a broad-based format covering 18
sectors, will be led by External Affairs Minister S M Krishna
from Indian side and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton from
the US side.
It will also lay the ground for the visit of US President
Barack Obama to India later this year.
"The Strategic Dialogue will enhance global strategic
partnership between India and the US by serving as a very
important mechanism to review, enhance and coordinate our
broad-based cooperation," Indian External Affairs Ministry
spokesman Vishnu Prakash told reporters here about the meeting
taking place in Washington.
The Indian delegation will also include Human Resource
Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal, Minister of State for
Science and Technology Prithviraj Chavan, Deputy Chairman of
Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Foreign
Secretary Nirupama Rao.
From the US side, Clinton will be joined by National
Security Adviser James Jones, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke,
Education Secretary Arne Duncan and some other officials.
The issues that are expected to come up include
Afghanistan-Pakistan situation, India's role in Afghanistan
and counter-terrorism cooperation between India and the US.
Describing counter-terrorism as an "urgent priority"
matter, sources said it poses a challenge to both India and
the US and their cooperation has intensified after Mumbai
attacks.
The two sides will be looking at ways to further step up
cooperation in this area, which will involve sharing of
intelligence besides the US help to upgrade India's internal
security mechanisms like forensic training and coastal
security. (MORE) PTI AKK
RDM


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