India, US jointly urge Pakistan to take verifiable action against terror groups operating from its soil

In a major move, India and United States have jointly urged Pakistan to take meaningful, irreversible and verifiable action against terrorists and terror groups operating from its soil.

Indian and U.S. officials met in Washington on March 29 for the sixteenth meeting of the U.S.-India Counterterrorism Joint Working Group and the second session of the U.S.-India Designations Dialogue.

The Counter Terrorism Joint Working Group exchanged views on threats posed by international terrorist organisations as well as ongoing concerns over cross-border terrorism in the South Asia region.

"Both sides underlined the urgent need for Pakistan to take meaningful, irreversible, and verifiable action against terrorists and terrorist groups. There was discussion of strengthening cooperation on information sharing and other steps to disrupt the ability of terrorists to travel, consistent with the important provisions and obligations outlined in United Nations Security Council Resolution 2396," a statement released by US state department read.

Participants also highlighted their efforts on some of the world's most pressing counter terrorism challenges, including countering the financing and operations of terrorist organisations, terrorist use of the internet, and prosecuting, rehabilitating, and reintegrating returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters, it added.

According to the statement, the United States also welcomed India's participation in international efforts to counter terrorism finance, and the two sides also shared information about their priorities and procedures for pursuing sanctions designations against terrorist groups and individuals.

State Department Coordinator for Counter terrorism Ambassador Nathan A. Sales and Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretary Mahaveer Singhvi led respective inter-Agency/inter-Departmental delegations discussed counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries, resolving to continue close coordination on this important element of the bilateral relationship.

Ambassador Sales emphasized U.S. support for the people and government of India in the fight against terrorism.

Recently, US brought a draft resolution in the UN Security Council, proposing to blacklist Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist after China held a proposal initiated by France under the 1267 Sanctions Committee.

Global momentum against Pakistan sponsored terrorism has been building up ever since Pulwama attack for which Pakistan-based JeM took responsibility.

India lost over 40 CRPF personnel in Februray after a JeM operative attacked their convoy with an explosive-laden vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama. The incident has been widely condemned, as countries threw their weight behind India in its fight against terrorism in the wake of the gruesome attack.

India, US , France and Germany along with other partners are playing key role in blacklisting and freezing properties linked to JeM and its chief globally .

However, Pakistan continued to remain in denial mode and has asked for more evidence. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has admitted in TV interviews that JeM chief Masood Azahar is in Pakistan.

Yesterday, India has supported the UNSC resolution against terror financing linking UN with FATF.

Welcoming the recognition in the resolution of the essential role of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in setting global standards, India's permanent representative at the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin yesterday said the states who are "apologists" for terrorists will continue to provide alibis to justify their actions and inaction.