India, US to strengthen ways to fight terrorism

New Delhi: India and the US on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen ways to fight terrorism and stressed the need for rule based international border to ensure peace in the Indo-Pacific region.

The two countries also resolved to remain engaged on Afghanistan and deepen their security relationship across the entire spectrum and counter-terrorism during the bilateral meeting between Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla and his US counterpart Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman. Her two-day visit to India from October 5 came nearly two weeks after Prime Minister held summit level talks with President Joe Biden in Washington.  

Modi also took part in the first in person Quad grouping heads of state meet along with Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and then Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

“US and India are looking to deepening our security relationship across multiple dimensions. We remain engaged with each other on Afghanistan, and counter-terrorism as well. Our countries will soon meet for a security dialogue,” Sherman said in her opening remarks.

She also said India and the US know that the best way to preserve peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world is by upholding and strengthening the rules-based international order. “Ours is an indispensable partnership,” she added.

Sherman said the United States appreciates



India’s concerns about the spillover of terrorism from Afghanistan after the Taliban took control of the war-torn region. She also said after meeting Shringla India and the United States have “one mind and one approach” on Afghanistan.

The US Deputy Secretary said as the world’s largest vaccine producer, India is a crucial leader in the fight against COVID. “We look forward to work together with India to vaccinate the world including through the Quad vaccine partnership, she said.

In the backdrop of China flexing its muscle in the Indo-Pacific and growing ties between Quad nations, she said the US will compete with China ‘where we should, cooperate with China where it’s in our interests. We will challenge China where we must -- where it undermines interests of ours and our partners and allies or threatens rules-based international order. ‘

Shringla said developments in Afghanistan will keep India and US engaged adding both the countries have a keen desire to ensure that ‘we both work together to ensure peace, security, and stability in South Asia and beyond,’ at the USIBC India Ideas Summit.  Sherman also attended the summit.

He also said India-US relationship will only attain greater heights in years to come. The Foreign Secretary said the two countries are now poised to move forward exponentially on many of the areas that ‘we have identified together.’