India, U.S. JWG to counter terrorism

LONDON, JAN 19. India and the United States today decided to establish a Joint Working Group (JWG) to counter terrorism and work together to ensure that the perpetrators of the recent hijacking of the Indian Airlines aircraft were brought to justice.

The decision, taken at the two-day 10th round of parleys between the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, and the US Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Strobe Talbott, here is seen as an implied endorsement of New Delhi's concern over cross- border terrorism sponsored by Islamabad although it comes close on the heels of Washington's rejection of India's plea to declare Pakistan a terrorist state.

The first meeting of the JWG will be held in Washington early next month, said a joint statement, issued after their talks on security, non-proliferation, disarmament and related issues besides bilateral relations, regional developments and other global issues. The two sides also discussed arrangements to plan in detail for the proposed visit to India by the U.S. President, Mr. Bill Clinton, expected in March.

On the hijacking, the statement said the two sides ``agreed to work together to ensure that the perpetrators of the hijacking of IC-814 are brought to justice as part of their joint efforts to combat international terrorism.''

Significantly, both sides discussed the possibility of institutionalising the dialogue and agreed on the need to intensify and broaden bilateral parleys.

The statement said the talks were held ``in the positive and constructive manner that has characterised their continuing dialogue.''

The Indian delegation at the talks included the Ambassador to the U.S., Mr. Naresh Chandra, the Joint Secretary (Disarmament), Mr. Rakesh Sood, Joint Secretary (Americas) Mr. Alok Prasad and the Joint Secretary (Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan) Mr. Vivek Katju.

- PTI

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