2+2 dialogue: NSA Doval heads to US

DOVAL WILL CARRY FORWARD THE SPADEWORK DONE BY FOREIGN SECRETARY VIJAY GOKHALE AND DEFENCE SECRETARY SANJAY MITRA

NEW DELHI: National security advisor Ajit Doval left for Washington on Monday night on a two-day official visit to meet his US counterpart HR McMaster, secretary of state-designate Michael Pompeo and CIA director-designate Gina Haspel as part of New Delhi’s ongoing effort to cement military-security ties with the Trump administration. Doval’s visit assumes significance because the scheduled two-plus-two April 18 dialogue between foreign and defence ministers of the two countries has been put off at least for a month pending senate confirmation of the incoming secretary of state Pompeo.

While South Block is tightlipped about the NSA’s visit, government officials familiar with the matter say Doval is bound for Washington to discuss the security environment in Asia, particularly in the context of developments in Afghanistan and Pakistan region, Sri Lanka, Maldives and China. Doval has had a close working relationship with outgoing CIA director Pompeo and his successor and has hotline to his counterpart McMaster.

According to US and Indian diplomats familiar with the details, Doval will carry forward the spadework done by foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale and defence secretary Sanjay Mitra, who returned after holding meetings for the two-plus-two talks on Sunday. It is understood that both sides have decided to deepen defence cooperation and synchronise their views on the Indo-Pacific as well as the Quad relationship, an in-the-works grouping of India, the US, Japan, and Australia to counter China’s growing clout in the region.

The diplomats said the preparatory work included discussions on the bilateral Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement. India and the US have been discussing all aspects of the two agreements and Washington has addressed all of New Delhi’s concerns.