Team Blitz India
INDIA and the United States reviewed ongoing cooperation in counter-terrorism and security domains, which has been a key pillar of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The review was done as part of the India-US Senior Officials’ Homeland Security Dialogue (HSD), which was held in New Delhi last week.
The officials of the two countries also discussed steps that can be taken to bolster bilateral efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism, drug trafficking, organised crime and ensure transportation security.
Ajay Bhalla, Home Secretary in the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs and Kristie Canegallo, Acting Deputy Secretary in the US Department of Homeland Security, led the respective delegations.
People-to-people ties
During the dialogue, the top officials also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the vibrant people-to-people ties between the two countries, by taking steps to enable safe and legal migration, counter illegal migration, human trafficking, money laundering, cyber-crimes, and misuse of the cyber domain for illegal activities, including terror-financing.
The co-chairs reiterated their keen interest in consolidating the mutually beneficial collaboration between the respective law enforcement agencies through exchange of information, capacity building, technical assistance and regular meetings of subgroups set up under the framework of the Homeland Security Dialogue.
Law enforcement training
The dialogue concluded with signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation on law enforcement training between the US Federal Law Enforcement Training Centre and India’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy. It is expected to further deepen bilateral security cooperation. The two sides agreed to hold the next round of the Senior Officials’ Homeland Security Dialogue in Washington DC at a mutually convenient date.
