Two Plus Two Summit: India, US Sign COMCASA Pact, Discuss H1-B Visa, Terror Among Other Issues
The first edition of the ‘two plus two dialogue took place in New Delhi today between India and the United States.
New Delhi, September 6: The first edition of the ‘two plus two' dialogue took place in New Delhi today between India and the United States. Indian Foreign Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held talks with the US Secretary of State Mike R Pompeo and Secretary of Defence James Mattis. Both the countries agreed to strengthen strategic ties. India raised the issue of H1B visa with the US.
The US has agreed with India to support its entry into the Nuclear Supply Group (NSG). Swaraj during a joint press conference said, “We agreed on working together towards entry of India in the NSG.” India and the US have also signed the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), which will open up the way for sales of more sensitive U.S. military equipment to India.
India has supported the US President Donald Trump’s Afghanistan Policy and also welcomed the US recent designation of terrorists as a part of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Both the countries have also signed key military pacts. India and the US also agreed to work together in fighting terrorism. Sitharaman at the press briefing said that India’s defence relations with the US have overcome hesitation of history.
Pompeo and Mattis will also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mattis termed India as a stabilising force in the region and also highlighted that the COMCASA would further strengthen defence ties between both the countries. The US also has also considered India as the important player in the Indo-Pacific region. Pompeo said, "India and the US stand for freedom and democratic values and we aim to extend this across the Indo-Pacific... we will work at different levels to ensure a free Indo-Pacific."
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 06, 2018 03:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).