India and the US on Wednesday discussed ways to expand their cooperation to prevent terror strikes and decided to forge institutional linkages to foster closer interaction.
Officials of the two countries deliberated on terror threat assessments, particularly in the backdrop of reports that Taliban is regrouping and preparing to launch a major action soon.
Issues relating to bio-terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and terrorist finance and money laundering also came up for discussion at the Joint Working Group meeting, which was aimed at evolving cooperative strategies to fight the global menace.
At the meeting, the Indian side was led by K C Singh, additional secretary (International Organisations), while the US delegation was headed by Franc Urbancic, acting coordinator for counter-terrorism.
The two sides "concurred that no country is safe from terrorism" and the cooperation between them "not only strengthens the fight against the scourge of terrorism, but is a symbol of the way in which like-minded democracies can work together as partners in countering the global menace," a Joint Statement issued after the meeting said.
"They agreed to find new ways to forge institutional linkages to foster closer interaction and cooperation," it said.
The officials of India and the US also discussed information sharing between the two countries and widening of cooperation for preventing terror acts, besides the ongoing anti-terrorism Assistance Training Programme.
They reviewed regional counter-terrorism efforts and threat assessments in South Asia and Middle East and exchanged views on ideological dimensions of terrorism.
This assumes significance considering reports that the Taliban is regrouping and planning major strikes in the near future.
In the wake of these apprehensions, US Vice President Dick Cheney visited Afghanistan and Pakistan during the last three days to emphasise the need for doing more to foil the Taliban's designs.
Significantly, the Indo-US meeting on terrorism came just 10 days after the bomb blasts on cross-border Samjhauta Express that killed 68 passengers travelling from India to Pakistan.
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