India, US strengthen homeland security cooperation

Aditi Pandey

9 months ago

NEW DELHI : India and the US held a homeland security dialogue in New Delhi on Wednesday, where they reviewed their ongoing cooperation in counter-terrorism and security domains, and discussed ways to enhance their bilateral efforts to combat terrorism, money laundering, organised crime, and other threats.

The Indian delegation was led by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, while the US delegation was headed by Acting Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, Kristie Canegallo. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the vibrant people-to-people ties between the two countries and agreed to take steps to enable safe and legal migration, counter illegal immigration, human trafficking, cyber crimes, and misuse of the cyber domain for illegal activities, including terror financing.

They also discussed measures to combat violent extremism, drug trafficking, transportation security, and activities of pro-Khalistani elements in the US. The issue of attacks on the Indian consulate in San Francisco last year, which are being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), is believed to have come up during the dialogue. The co-chairs reiterated their keen interest in consolidating the mutually beneficial collaboration between their respective law enforcement agencies through an exchange of information, capacity building, technical assistance, and regular meetings of sub-groups set up under the framework of the Homeland Security Dialogue.

The dialogue concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation on law enforcement training between the US Federal Law Enforcement Training Centre and the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in India. The next round of the senior officials’ homeland security dialogue will be held in Washington DC, at a mutually convenient date.