2+2 dialogue between India, US to focus on areas including anti-terror cooperation, terror financing and cybersecurity

Washington, September 4: Days ahead of the maiden two-plus-two dialogue between India and the United States of America, the security officials of two countries on Monday worked on a draft plan related to six areas, including anti-terror cooperation in intelligence sharing, terror financing and cybersecurity. 

The US Homeland security official said, “The six sub-groups formed under the Indo-US homeland security dialogue cover the areas of (i) Illicit finance, Illegal smuggling of cash, financial fraud and counterfeiting, (ii) cyber information, (iii) megacity policing and sharing of information among federal state and local partners, (iv) global supply chain, transportation, port, border and maritime security, (v) capacity building and (vi) technology upgradation.”

“The Indo-US homeland security dialogue was launched in 2010 as the mechanism to a sequel to the signing of the India-US counter-terrorism initiative,” the official added. “Both the sides agreed to work out the modalities to address these issues and agreed to maintain sustained interactions to enhance security cooperation between the two countries,” the official concluded.

The development comes just two days ahead of much-awaited 2+2 dialogue (two plus two dialogue) is to take place. Importantly, New Delhi is all set to host the much-awaited 2+2 dialogue (two plus two dialogue) between India and the United States (US) on September 6 this year to strengthen bilateral ties.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will host the US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and US Secretary of Defence James Mattis in New Delhi. The 2+2 meeting will cover a broad range of bilateral, regional and global issues of shared interest, with a view to strengthening strategic and security ties between the two countries.

However, the much awaited 2+2 dialogue is seen as a vehicle to elevate the strategic relationship between the two countries.