New Delhi: Noting that working together
to address the shared challenge of terrorism was a "strategic"
priority for them, India and the US on Tuesday 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.
PTI
