US delegation Mike Pompeo and Jim Mattis arrives New Delhi to hold much-awaited 2+2 dialogue
New Delhi, September 6: Washington, September 5: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Jim Mattis have arrived New Delhi on Wednesday night to hold the much-awaited two-plus-two dialogue (2+2 dialogue) with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The 2+2 dialogue between India and US delegation will be held today in New Delhi. The key highlight of dialogue is scheduled to be counter-terrorism, defence cooperation, trade and India's concerns over the Trump administration's decision to make changes in the H1B visa programme. The bilateral meetings will be followed by the combined 2 +2 Dialogue. The visiting delegations will also jointly call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Before arriving New Delhi, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis in Washington while talking to media had said that the Trump administration recognizes the opportunity to grow the US-India strategic partnership, deepen security relationship and ensure a more safe, secure, prosperous and free Indo-Pacific region.
Replying to reporters in Washington, Pompeo said, "The missile system purchase from Russia and oil from Iran are a part of the conversation. They will certainly come up, but I don't think they will be the primary focus of what it is we are trying to accomplish here. There are half-a-dozen things on the agenda that we are really intent on making progress on."
Mattis said that he and Pompeo will also meet National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to reinforce their appreciation for India's role in regional and global security framework. The defence secretary, in the end, said, the United States is certainly looking at how India and US counter the terrorism and increase defence innovation.
Before India, Mattis and Pompeo visited Islamabad and held a meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, FM Qureshi, the army chief, ISI director general Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and other senior officials.