Joint Efforts: India and US Unite to Combat Terror’s Tech Tactics

Washington: India and the United States delved into strategies for exchanging information and enhancing capabilities to address emerging terrorist threats during a meeting held in Washington. Discussions revolved around countering the misuse of the internet and new technologies for terrorist activities and financing. Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is designated as a terrorist organization by multiple countries, including the United States, India, and the United Nations.

The meeting of the bilateral counterterrorism joint working group was held alongside the designations dialogue, which focuses on joint efforts to sanction terrorist individuals and entities at multilateral forums, in the US capital on Tuesday.KD Dewal, joint secretary (counterterrorism) in the external affairs ministry and Elizabeth Richard, coordinator for counterterrorism at the US State Department, led the two inter-agency delegations at the meeting, according to a joint statement issued on Wednesday

This was the 20th meeting of the group, which was established in 2000.India and the US sought concerted action against all terror groups, including entities proscribed by the UN Security Council’s 1267 Sanctions Committee, such as al Qaeda, Islamic State, LeT and JeM. They also exchanged information regarding priorities and procedures for designating various terrorist entities and individuals.The two sides reviewed emerging threats and tactics in terrorism, including the use of the internet and new and emerging technologies for terror, international movement of terrorists, terrorist recruitment, financing of terror activities and radicalisation to violence and violent extremism. They “committed to information sharing, capacity building and continued bilateral and multilateral efforts to address these threats”, the joint statement said.India and the US also committed to strengthen law enforcement and judicial partnerships in support of rule of law, including through information-sharing and enhanced cooperation on mutual legal assistance requests.The two sides also agreed to cooperate in the Quad counterterrorism working group and other multilateral forums such as the UN, Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF) and Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to advance shared security interests within the region while supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient, the joint statement said.While emphasising the “extraordinary value” of the India-US comprehensive global and strategic partnership, the two sides renewed their commitment to countering terrorism and promoting regional security as an integral part of their broader bilateral cooperation.