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India, US to work out ways to fight terrorism
By Atul Aneja
NEW DELHI, JAN.20 Within days of the visit of the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, a high-power delegation is arriving here from Washington to expand cooperation on counter-terrorism
The team is led by the State Department's pointman on counter-terrorism, Francis X. Taylor. The 13-member delegation also includes representatives of key intelligence and investigative agencies.
Incidentally, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Robert Muller, will also be here to hold talks with his counterpart in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He is also expected to meet the chief of the Intelligence Bureau, K.P Singh.
Besides, the chief of the U.S. Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Thomas Wilson, is also beginning a visit to India on Monday. Admiral Wilson is expected to exchange views with the Director-General of Military Intelligence. His visit assumes significance in the light of India's decision to develop a tri-service intelligence agency headed by a three-star General or his counterparts in the Air Force and Navy.
The Indian side to the Joint Working Group meeting on counter-terrorism is led by the Joint Secretary (Americas), Jayant Prasad, and includes representatives from the Intelligence Bureau, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the National Security Council, the Defence Ministry, the Bureau of Civil Aviation
Security and Army headquarters.
Significantly, the two sides will look at the implementation of the U.N. Security Council resolution 1373 that urges all countries to banish terrorism from their soil. According to Indian officials, the resolution has a bearing on Pakistan, as a large number of terrorists are suspected to be operating from there. The U.S. coordinator on worldwide implementation of the resolution, Ted McNamara, is part of the team.
Four key areas
The fourth meeting of the Indo-U.S. Joint Working Group, therefore, will focus on four key areas.
First, the two delegations will look at ways to streamline intelligence sharing and carry out joint investigations. India has already started expanding sharing of intelligence. This includes sharing of radio intercepts of Kashmir terrorists and their backers in Pakistan. The U.S. side is also likely to suggest ways to strengthen India's forensic capabilities.
Second, with infiltration emerging as a key problem along the Indo-Pak. border, both sides are looking at ways to improve ``border management.''
According to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs, India and the U.S. will launch a ``pilot project for improving border management. The Los Angeles-based Sandia Laboratories will be responsible for this project from the U.S. side.''
Third, the JWG will launch a joint initiative to counter cyber terrorism. This decision is the result of the Prime Minister's visit to Washington in November last. The national security councils of the two countries will coordinate the programme. The military establishments of the two sides are also expected to be drawn in the counter-terrorism exercise. The two-day dialogue will, for the first time include internal security as a major item for discussions.
Fourth, the two delegations will discuss ways to snap funding of terrorists and expand cooperation in this sphere.
Both sides are expected to share assessments and exchange information on terrorism in South Asia. The military campaign against terrorism in Afghanistan is also likely to come up for detailed discussions. The two delegations will discuss developments in India's ``extended neighbourhood. These will include countries in Central Asia and Southeast Asia, including the Philippines and Indonesia that are faced with the threat of terrorism.
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