US-India to hold dialogue to strengthen anti-terror cooperation

Noting that working together to address the shared challenge of terrorism was a "strategic" priority for them, India and the US today said the next week's security dialogue between the two countries will strengthen the cooperation.
   
The issue was discussed when US Deputy Secretary for Homeland Security Jane Lute called Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao to prepare for the dialogue here on May 27 led by Home Minister P Chidambaram and his American counterpart Janet Napolitano, external affairs ministry sources said here.
   
The sources said Rao and Lute also reaffirmed the importance of the 'Home land Security Dialogue', to be held for the first time, to the Indo-US strategic partnership.
   
Issues such as cooperation on counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing and activities of various extremists groups will be high on agenda during the dialogue.
   
The security situation in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, in the wake of the killing of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, is likely to be discussed by the two leaders.
   
Napolitano's trip will be the first high-level visit from the United States after President Barack Obama's tour to India in November, 2010.
   
Chidambaram had visited the US in January 2009 when he had extensive discussions with Napolitano.