2 nations discuss H1b visa, NSG entry; Pompeo says will work out ways to avert sanction over Russia deal
Reaffirming their commitment to fight the scourge of terrorism, India and the US on Thursday urged Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used to launch terror attacks and bring to justice perpetrators of acts of terrorism, especially in Mumbai, Uri and Pathankot.
Making this assertion during the maiden 2+2 dialogue here between External Affairs and Defence Ministers of India and the US respectively, the two countries also signed the long awaited Communications, Compatibility, Security Agreement (COMCASA) enabling the Indian armed forces to access encrypted technology for various weapon platforms, including aircraft from the US. The two sides also agreed to hold the first-ever tri-service joint exercise on the East Coast of India next year.
Among other issues, the contentious H1b visa and India’s bid to enter Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) also came up. Further enhancing growing strategic partnership, the two countries also decided to set up hotlines between the External and Defence Ministers of two countries.
The path-breaking 2+2 dialogue was held between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and their US counterparts Michael Pompeo and James Mattis respectively. Both the sides discussed the entire range of strategic issues concerning the two nations, growing defence ties, cross-border terrorism and further boosting interaction between the two militaries.
Later talking to the American media here, Pompeo said the US will work out ways to avoid slapping sanction on India over the Russian defence deal as the US does not want to hurt its strategic partner.
Issuing a terse warning to Pakistan, the “Ministers denounced any use of terrorist proxies in the region, and in this context, they called on Pakistan to ensure that the territory under its control is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries,” a joint statement said.
Ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai attack, they also called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the Mumbai, Pathankot (2016), Uri (2016), and other cross-border terrorist attacks, the statement said.
Addressing a joint Press conference, Swaraj said the India-US counter-terrorism cooperation has acquired a new “qualitative edge and purpose”.
“We welcomed the recent designations of Lashkar-e-Tayyeba terrorists by the United States. They underscore the international community’s scrutiny over the threat of terrorism emanating from Pakistan, which has affected India and the United States alike. In the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 attacks, we recognised the importance of justice and retribution for the masterminds behind this terrorist attack,” they said.
Sitharaman said India and the US were committed to work together to combat the “persistent threat of terrorism” and other shared security challenges. The Ministers committed to enhance their ongoing cooperation in multilateral fora such as the UN and Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and reaffirmed their support for a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism that will advance and strengthen the framework for global cooperation and reinforce the message that no cause or grievance justifies terrorism, the joint statement said.
“The Ministers welcomed the launch of a bilateral dialogue on designation of terrorists in 2017, which is strengthening cooperation and action against terrorist groups, including Al-Qaida, ISIS, Lashkar-e-Taiba,
Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizb-ul Mujahideen, the Haqqani Network, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, D-Company, and their affiliates,” it said.
Swaraj said India recognises the value of the Terrorists Designations Dialogue established last year as well as other mechanisms to promote cooperation in counter-terrorism and homeland security.
She also said the two countries also discussed the situation in South Asia in some detail adding India supports President Trump’s South Asia Policy. “His call for Pakistan to stop its policy of supporting cross-border terrorism finds resonance with us,” the Indian External Affairs Minister said.
Reviewing the security situation in the Indian sub-continent, Swaraj said the efforts by India and the US in promoting an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan Government-controlled reconciliation process came up for discussion.
Her US counterpart Pompeo termed the COMCASA agreement a “milestone” in the ties between two countries and Sitharaman said the pact will enhance India’s defence capability and preparedness.
The COMCASA will facilitate India to obtain critical defence technologies from the US, and access critical communication network to ensure interoperability among the US and the Indian armed forces.
It will also allow the installation of high-security US communication equipment on defence platforms being sourced from the US.
The encrypted systems will allow the Indian forces to fully exploit the capabilities of aircraft like C-130 and C-17 transport aircraft besides P-8 I long range maritime reconnaissance aircraft procured from the US in the last few years.
The pact could not be inked in the past due to concerns in India that it will allow the US to listen into Indian secure communication channels.
Elaborating upon the COMCASA pact, officials later said New Delhi negotiated an India specific agreement building on the generic text. Specific provisions have been incorporated to safeguard our interests and data cannot be shared, they said adding the text of COMCASA is confidential but legal arrangements are there.
The pact comes into force immediately and is valid for 10 years and “we have ensured that we have full access to the relevant equipment and there will be no disruptions,” they said and asserted this is an enabling agreement and does not commit India to any acquisitions.
Meanwhile, Swaraj said the dialogue reflected the desire of leadership of the two countries to further elevate the bilateral strategic communication on cross-cutting defence and security issues.
“The recent decision by the US to put India in the list of countries eligible for Strategic Trade Authorization Tier-I License Exemption reflects India’s robust and responsible export control policies. In our meeting today, we also agreed to work together to secure India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group at the earliest,” she said.
On the H1B visa issue which has raised concerns amongst Indian professionals working in the US, Swaraj said she sought Pompeo’s support to nurture our people-to-people links. “Specifically, I conveyed our expectation for a non-discriminatory and predictable approach to the H1B visa regime, given its high impact on innovation, competitiveness and people-to-people partnership, all of which are a vital source of strength for our relationship,” Swaraj said.
As regards giving a fillip to military to military ties, India and the US announced a new tri-service exercise to begin next year. Officials stated that this will be an amphibious exercise Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise. “We have decided for the first time to carry out a tri services exercise on the Eastern Coast with US in 2019,” Sitharaman said.
The two Defence Ministers of India and US also announced their readiness to begin negotiations on an Industrial Security Annex (ISA) that would support closer defense industry cooperation and collaboration.
India and the US have signed the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) years ago and allows sharing of classified information from US Government and American companies with Indian Government and Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSU) but not with Indian private companies.
The ISA is required to enable this and particularly important as India opens up defence manufacturing to the private sector in a big way.
To further defence innovation, a Memorandum of Intent was signed between the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Indian Defence Innovation Organization - Innovation for Defence Excellence (DIO-iDEX) which will look into joint projects for co-production and co-development projects through the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).