India, U.S. Conclude Homeland Security Dialogue
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A Publication of the Embassy of India, Washington, D.C. June 1, 2011 I India RevieI w Vol. 7 Issue 6 www.indianembassy.org Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram and U.S. Secretary for Homeland Security Janet Napolitano holding a joint press briefing on the India-U.S. Homeland Security Dialogue, in New Delhi on May 27. India, U.S. conclude Homeland Security Dialogue n India to allow n New merger n Indian banks build foreign direct and acquisition on global branding, investment in limited norms unveiled; continue to dominate liability partnership take effect India’s financial firms from June 1 sector Cover STORY India-U.S. Homeland Security dialogue concludes Both countries affirm the strategic importance of cooperation in tackling terror and other security issues Home Minister P. Chidambaram with U.S. Secretary for Homeland Security Janet Napolitano at a delegation-level meeting, in New Delhi on May 27, 2011. ffirming the strategic Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh the two leaders agreed to deepen importance of cooperation and President Barack Obama had agency-to-agency engagement, shar - for the security of India and agreed to launch an India-U.S. ing of intelligence, and access to data 2 Athe United States and their Homeland Security Dialogue. relating to terrorism. people, the two countries concluded During their talks, Home Minister the first India-U.S. Homeland Chidambaram and Secretary Text of the Joint Statement (Excerpts ): Security Dialogue in New Delhi on Napolitano hailed the growing cooper - “Home Minister P. Chidambaram and May 27, 2011. At the Dialogue, the ation between the two countries in U.S. Department of Homeland Indian delegation was led by Home their counter-terrorism efforts. Security Secretary Janet Napolitano Minister P. Chidambaram and the U.S. Referring to the Mumbai terror attack launched in New Delhi the India-U.S. side by Secretary, Homeland Security of November 2008, they restated that Homeland Security Dialogue, which Department, Janet Napolitano. the two governments were determined was announced by Prime Minister It was as part of the growing to bring to justice the perpetrators and Dr. Manmohan Singh and strategic partnership between India the supporters of the carnage. President Barack Obama in November and the United States, that As regards institutional cooperation, 2010 as part of the global strategic June 2011 India Review Cover STORY partnership between India and the United States. Home Minister Chidambaram and Secretary Napolitano affirmed the strategic importance of cooperation for the security of the two countries and their people, based on their shared values of democracy, pluralism and openness; the threat of terrorism and other challenges, including cyber 3 security, counterfeit currency, illicit financing and transnational crimes; and, the deepening technological and economic partnership between the two nations. The leaders expressed satisfaction with the growth in counter-terrorism and security cooperation between U.S. Secretary for Homeland Security Janet Napolitano calls on Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, in New Delhi on May 27. Also seen is India’s Ambassador to United States Meera Shankar and India and the U.S. They noted the U.S. Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer. contribution of existing mechanisms, such as the Joint Working Group on democratic and federal environment. security and counter-terrorism; and, to Counter-terrorism, established in They decided to strengthen agency- facilitate bilateral technology transfer 2000, the Defense Policy Group, the to-agency engagement, including and trade in these items, in the spirit of Joint Working Group on Information those in the areas of intelligence the strategic partnership between the and Communications Technology exchange, information sharing, two countries. and the Aviation Security Working forensics and investigation, access and Home Minister Chidambaram and Group, and the Counter-Terrorism sharing of data relating to terrorism, Secretary Napolitano agreed on a cal - Coopera-tion Initiative of July 2010 in security of infrastructure,transporta - endar of events, and collaborative advancing India-U.S. cooperation. tion and trade, conducting joint needs activities and initiatives to be imple - They discussed their cooperation assessments, combating counterfeit mented over the next twelve months. in the investigations into the Mumbai currency, countering illicit financing They also decided that the Home terror attack of November 2008 and transnational crime. Secretary of India and the Deputy and reiterated their governments’ They decided to foster capacity Secretary of Homeland Security commitment to bring the perpetrators building in areas including counter- should meet at the end of six months to and supporters of the Mumbai attack terrorism, counter-narcotics, counter - review progress in their collaboration. to justice. As Prime Minister feit currency, illicit financing and Home Minister Chidambaram and Dr. Manmohan Singh and President transnational crime, security of infra - Secretary Napolitano agreed to hold Barack Obama stated in November structure, transportation and trade, the Homeland Security Dialogue 2010, the Minister and Secretary coastal security and large-city policing. annually to set strategic directions for called on Pakistan to move expedi - They affirmed the importance of cooperation in homeland security. tiously in prosecuting those involved in more dialogue and cooperation in the During her visit to India, Secretary the terror attack. Home Minister area of cyber security. They welcomed Napolitano also met with senior police Chidambaram and Secretary the decision of the two governments to officials in Mumbai and visited the Napolitano committed their govern - negotiate an MoU between CERT-IN 26/11 memorial in Mumbai. Secretary ments to comprehensive sharing of (Indian Computer Emergency Napolitano called on Finance Minister information relating to the attack. Response Team) and US-CERT Pranab Mukherjee, Defense Minister Home Minister Chidambaram and (United States Computer Emergency A. K. Antony, Minister for Secretary Napolitano committed to Readiness Team), the designated Communications and Information expand India-U.S. cooperation to agencies for information exchange. Technology Kapil Sibal and Foreign further strengthen their capacity to Home Minister Chidambaram and Secretary Nirupama Rao. Secretary secure their countries and protect their Secretary Napolitano agreed that the Napolitano invited Home Minister people. They agreed to share ideas and two governments should maintain a Chidambaram for the next round of the experiences on the transformation of regular dialogue to share information India-U.S. Homeland Security their countries’ security-related and assessment on equipment, tech - Dialogue in Washington DC at a mutu - organizational structures in a nologies, and systems for homeland ally convenient date next year. ” June 2011 India Review Cover STORY ‘India-U.S. cooperation key to strategic partnership’ Home Minister P. Chidambaram says India-U.S. Homeland Security Dialogue carries out a key strategic outcome of President Obama’s visit to India in November 2010 n May 27, in a welcome address for U.S. Homeland Security Department OSecretary Janet Napo- litano, India’s Home Minister P. Chidambaram in his Opening Remarks described the India-U.S. Homeland Security Dialogue as an “important milestone in India-U.S. relations”, adding “a very important dimension to the growing strategic partnership between our two countries”. Referring to the salience of the India-U.S. strategic relationship, Chidambaram observed: “One of the key elements of the India-U.S. rela - tionship is our engagement on the issue of terrorism and on counter-ter - rorism cooperation.” Home Minister P. Chidambaram meeting U.S. Secretary for Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, in New Delhi on May 27. Text of Home Minister Chidambaram’s Opening Remarks: Security and agreed to further deepen cotics trafficking, threats and risks in “Secretary Napolitano, operational cooperation, counter-ter - the cyber space, etc. I am honored to launch with you rorism technology transfers and capac - Madam Secretary, it is a truism to today the India-U.S. Homeland ity building. The two leaders also say that India lives in perhaps the most Security Dialogue. This is an impor - emphasized the importance of close difficult neighborhood in the world. tant milestone in India-U.S. relations cooperation in combating terrorist The global epicenter of terrorism is in and adds a very important dimension financing and in protecting the inter - our immediate western neighborhood. to the growing strategic partnership national financial system.’ The vast infrastructure of terrorism in between our two countries. In a world of complex challenges, Pakistan has for long flourished as an It implements one of the key strate - including new and emerging forms of instrument of state policy. Today, dif - gic outcomes of the visit of President threats, terrorism remains a principal ferent terrorist groups, operating from 4 Barack Obama to India in November challenge for our two countries. The the safe havens in Pakistan, are becom - 2010, during which Prime Minister events of the past few days, especially ing increasingly fused... Today, Dr. Manmohan Singh and President inside Pakistan, speak to the successes Pakistan itself faces a major threat Obama announced the Homeland and to the enduring risks and chal - from the same forces. Its people as well Security Dialogue.