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U.S. promises India full cooperation

Shivshankar Menon

Washington: The United States on Wednesday promised “full cooperation [with] and support” to India at various levels to deal with the consequences of the Mumbai terror attacks even as the two sides asserted that the perpetrators of the carnage be held accountable.

“All the interlocutors expressed sympathy and support to the government and people of India in the context of the heinous terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Unequivocal condemnation of the incident and the need for the perpetrators to be held accountable was reiterated,” the Indian Embassy here said after Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon met senior State Department officials.

“It was also indicated that there would be full cooperation and support at various levels, including government, from the U.S. to India as it dealt with the consequences of the incident,” an embassy statement said.

Mr. Menon met Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns.

“The meetings covered a range of bilateral issues, including counter-terrorism cooperation, anti-piracy coordination, India-U.S. civil nuclear agreement, defence trade, space cooperation and furthering economic and investment relations between the two countries,” the statement said.

Mr. Menon’s visit was planned ahead of the Mumbai terror attacks but the trip took place as scheduled and terrorism was indeed on top of the agenda during the discussions, sources said.

Apart from having talks with Mr. Negroponte and Mr. Burns, Mr. Menon received a call from Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, who offered her condolences over the tragedy.

Mr. Menon had a conversation with Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Sub Committee on Near East, Central and South Asia in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and met with several think-tanks and influential opinion-makers.

“In every conversation, support and commitment was articulated to the transformed relationship, and desire expressed to sustain the momentum through the present transition in U.S., and beyond,” the statement said.

“In meetings with several of the Senators, there were also discussions on the present international economic and financial situation, the new opportunities for cooperation following the successful conclusion of the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement between India and the U.S., issues related to energy security, climate change etc,” the statement added. — PTI

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