India, US ink critical defence pact

A long-negotiated defence pact under which critical and encrypted defence technologies will be provided to the Indian military by the US was inked here on Thursday after the two countries held their first 2+2 dialogue during which they also discussed key issues, including cross-border terrorism, India's NSG bid and the contentious H1B visa issue.

During the talks which External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had with US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Defence Secretary James Mattis, the two countries also decided to set up hotlines between them.

The COMCASA will facilitate India in obtaining critical defence technologies from the US, and access critical communication network to ensure interoperability among the US and the Indian armed forces. It will also allow the installation of highsecurity US communication equipment on defence platforms being sourced from the US.

India and the US also agreed to work together to secure Nuclear Suppliers Group's membership for New Delhi at the earliest.

The two sides also announced their resolve to enhance informationsharing efforts on known or suspected terrorists and to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2396 on returning foreign terrorist fighters, a joint statement issued after the talks said.

Television sources interpreted this to mean that an assurance has been given to India on apprehending Dawood.

The most tangible outcome of the talks was to set up a hotline between foreign and defence ministers and closely monitor the implementation of the decisions taken at the first 2+2 dialogue.