India, US to deepen collaboration against LeT, JeM

Washington, Mar 9: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US later this month, India and the US have agreed to deepen their already close collaboration on several issues, including the fight against LeT and JeM blamed for a series of terror attacks in India.

This was decided during Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar's meeting with US National Security Adviser Susan Rice. "Rice and Jaishankar affirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation on climate change, trade and defence, and noted preparations for the upcoming Nuclear Security Summit," Ned Price, spokesman of National Security Council, White House, said in a statement yesterday.

"They also discussed US-India collaboration against Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and other terrorist threats. "Building on their leaders' commitment to make the US- India partnership a defining relationship for the 21st century, they agreed to deepen their already close collaboration on these issues," Price said.

LeT was behind several terror attacks in India, including the 2008 Mumbai attack. India has blamed JeM for the January 2 terror attack in Pathankot.

Yesterday, Jaishankar met with officials at the State Department, Department of Commerce and US Trade Representatives here.

He is expected to continue his meetings today. Modi will visit the US later this month to attend the Nuclear Security Summit to be hosted by US President Barack Obama. Jaishankar is on a two-day visit to Washington.

PTI