During the dialogue that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had with US Secretary of State Michael R Pompeo and US Defence Secretary James Mattis, the two countries also decided to set up hotlines.
India and the Unites States took big strides in defence ties and counterterrorism cooperation during their inaugural '2+2' dialogue here, although progress eluded on contentious issues like HIB visa, tariffs and trade.
India can take particular satisfaction that the joint statement issued at the end of talks referred to the attacks in Mumbai, Pathankot, Uri and other cross-border transgressions and called on Pakistan to ensure that the territory under its control was not used to launch terrorist strikes against other countries.
Both sides inked a long-negotiated pact which will allow India to obtain critical and encrypted defence technologies from the US, and also decided to undertake joint tri-services exercises in the eastern coast, besides taking steps forward on civil nuclear cooperation.
During the dialogue that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had with US Secretary of State Michael R Pompeo and US Defence Secretary James Mattis, the two countries also decided to set up hotlines.
Both sides also committed to a rule-based order in the Indo-Pacific region, to overcome China's claim over the resource-rich South China Sea — a strategic corridor for Indian ships and merchandise.
On terrorism, the joint statement welcomed strengthening cooperation and action against terror outfits Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Laskhar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizbul Mujahideen, the Haqqani Network, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, D-Company and their affiliates.
Swaraj said US President Donald Trump's South Asia policy and his call for Pakistan to stop its policy of supporting cross-border terrorism "finds resonance with us".
Both sides also committed to implement fully the civil nuclear energy partnership and collaboration between the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and US-based Westinghouse Electric Company for the establishment of six nuclear power plants in India.
Pompeo termed the 'Communications, Compatibility, Security Agreement (COMCASA)' a "milestone" in the relationship. Sitharaman asserted that the pact will enhance India's defence capability and preparedness.
In a joint statement issued at the end of talks, the ministers committed to starting exchanges between the US Naval Forces Central Command which covers West Asia, North Africa, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan with the Indian Navy. So far Indian defence forces have had their contact points with the US Pacific Command alone.
No Headway
It appeared there was no progress on issues of trade, tariff and H1B visa. Swaraj in her remarks said she expected a non-discriminatory and predictable approach from the US on the H1B visa regime.
While saying that she has sought US Secretary of State's attention to nurture people-to-people links, Swaraj said, "Specifically, I conveyed our expectation for a non-discriminatory and predictable approach to the H1B visa regime, given its high impact on innovation, competitiveness and people-to-people partnership, all of which are a vital source of strength for our relationship."
But there was no mention of the issue either in the joint statement or in the remarks of the Pompeo.
Both sides also skirted sticky issues like insulating India's defence purchases from Russia from CAATSA, or Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, and the US demand that India "zero out" its oil imports from Iran by November. Pompeo said while these issues remain at the heart of his country, but will not be allowed to be made stumbling blocks in talks or to derail cooperation in other sectors. A senior State Department official, who asked not to be identified, said the conversations would continue before the Trump administration's November 4 deadline for countries to halt Iranian oil imports or face sanctions.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "2+2 dialogue")
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}