May 18, 2011

Indo US Counter Terrorism Cooperation: Finally Taking Off?

A Preview of the Forthcoming Indo US Home Land Security Dialogue

            India and the United States are possibly two countries with maximum terrorist threat in different forms. Indo US counter terrorism cooperation therefore is a sine qua nan. While the perception of threat may differ a common aim of pursuing capacity building can provide both countries major advantages from synergy. Finally it appears that the cooperation is finally set to take off at the operative level with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Home Minister P. Chidambaram jointly launching the U.S.-India Homeland Security dialogue in New Delhi on the 27th May. Secretary Napolitano is on a visit to India on May 26 and 27.

            Mumbai 26/11 and the response by New Delhi had led the Home Minister Mr P Chidambaram to study the US model after 9/11 and understand various systems evolved to combat the threat which had led to the singular success of avoiding a terror attack in the United States. The Home Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram undertook an extensive tour of the United States to understand the system put in place in September 2009, almost a year after Mumbai. As per the operative portions of the Ministry of Home Affairs Press release related to capacity building at that time, it stated, “The visit is aimed at carrying forward the dialogue with the USA with regard to assessment of the security situation in South Asia, understanding the Counter -Terrorism institutions and structures in USA as well as meeting with the Secretary of State and senior officials involved in security and intelligence matters.

Besides getting an in-depth understanding of the functioning of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, the Home Minister will also be interacting with Heads of Homeland Security and intelligence agencies including the FBI and will also look at the functioning of the New York Police Department. He will also be discussing issues related to combating financing of terrorism and steps which will need to be taken in this regard as well as in regard to prevention of money laundering”.

            Despite Mr Chidambaram’s initiative nothing much has happened on these fronts so far, the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) is still in the conceptual stage, the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) has not yet got the approval of the Cabinet Committee of Security despite a CEO having been in place for the past 18 months. The much touted Multi Agency Centre (MAC) does churn out better information but could hardly avoid the goof up of including a person living in India amongst the most wanted list given to Pakistan. So it is a long road ahead for Mr Chidambaram and hopefully the dialogue with Secretary Napolitano will spur on the Ministry to put into place the mechanisms which have brought much safety to America.

            At the same time Mr Chidambaram would have much to share with the US Secretary given the success in containing spread of ideological fundamentalism and extremism in India. An America which faces a far lesser challenge of radicalization than India may be able to learn from New Delhi’s cross religious and cultural initiatives which have tremendously brought down the phenomenon of extremism in the country over the past few years.

This dialogue will take operationalise numerous agreements made from time to time with extracts related to counter terrorism cooperation summarized as given below –

Joint Statement of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama

November 08, 2010

Building upon the Counter Terrorism Initiative signed in July 2010, the two leaders announced a new Homeland Security Dialogue between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of Homeland Security and agreed to further deepen operational cooperation, counter-terrorism technology transfers and capacity building. The two leaders also emphasized the importance of close cooperation in combating terrorist financing and in protecting the international financial system.

The two leaders affirmed that their countries’ common ideals, complementary strengths and a shared commitment to a world without nuclear weapons give them a responsibility to forge a strong partnership to lead global efforts for non-proliferation and universal and non-discriminatory global nuclear disarmament in the 21st century. They affirmed the need for a meaningful dialogue among all states possessing nuclear weapons to build trust and confidence and for reducing the salience of nuclear weapons in international affairs and security doctrines. They support strengthening the six decade-old international norm of non-use of nuclear weapons. They expressed a commitment to strengthen international cooperative activities that will reduce the risk of terrorists acquiring nuclear weapons or material without reducing the rights of nations that play by the rules to harness the power of nuclear energy to advance their energy security. The leaders reaffirmed their shared dedication to work together to realize the commitments outlined at the April 2010 Nuclear Security Summit to achieve the goal of securing vulnerable nuclear materials in the next four years. Both sides expressed deep concern regarding illicit nuclear trafficking and smuggling and resolved to strengthen international cooperative efforts to address these threats through the IAEA, Interpol and in the context of the Nuclear Security Summit Communiqué and Action Plan. The two sides welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership being established by India.

Both sides expressed deep concern about the threat of biological terrorism and pledged to promote international efforts to ensure the safety and security of biological agents and toxins. They stressed the need to achieve full implementation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention and expressed the hope for a successful BWC Review Conference in 2011. The United States welcomed India’s destruction of its chemical weapons stockpile in accordance with the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Both countries affirmed their shared commitment to promoting the full and effective implementation of the CWC. [MEA India Press Release].

Joint Statement issued after the conclusion of U.S. - India Strategic Dialogue

June 03, 2010

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and India’s External Affairs Minister, Shri S.M. Krishna, met in Washington on June 3, 2010, for the inaugural meeting of the “India-U.S. Strategic Dialogue.” President Barack Obama welcomed the Indian delegation and emphasized his commitment to strengthening the growing U.S.-India partnership.

Advancing Global Security and Countering Terrorism

Minister Krishna and Secretary Clinton reiterated their shared goal of advancing security and stability across Asia, in particular, through the emergence of an open, balanced, and inclusive architecture of cooperation in the region. Secretary Clinton welcomed India's leadership role in helping to shape the rise of a stable, peaceful and prosperous Asia. They shared their perspectives on South and Central Asia, East and Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean regions and pledged to expand regular high-level exchanges on regional issues of mutual concern.

Secretary Clinton and Minister Krishna reiterated their shared interest and commitment to a stable, sovereign, democratic and pluralistic Afghanistan. They reiterated the importance of a sustained international commitment to Afghanistan that builds local capacities through Afghan-led initiatives. Secretary Clinton welcomed India's vital contribution to reconstruction, capacity building and development efforts in Afghanistan and its offer to enhance efforts in this direction. Both sides pledged to explore opportunities for coordination on civilian assistance projects that advance Afghan self-sufficiency and build civilian capacity.

India and the U.S. committed to regularly consult with each other on Afghanistan. It is in our common interest that the people of Afghanistan succeed in their reconstruction and development efforts without outside interference, in an atmosphere free from violence and extremism. Afghanistan’s success is vital for the security and stability of the region.

Minister Krishna and Secretary Clinton expressed grave concern over recent incidents in the United States and India that remind that terrorism and violent extremism know no boundaries and remain continuing threats to global, regional, and domestic security. They acknowledged the importance of continued cooperation in efforts to defeat terrorism. They reaffirmed the critical principle that no cause or grievance justifies terrorism in any form. They called for swift and credible steps to eliminate terrorist safe havens and vowed to strengthen global consensus and legal regimes against terrorism, including by working together at the UN toward adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism that strengthens our efforts in combating terrorism.

Both Minister Krishna and Secretary Clinton heralded the unprecedented and expanding India-U.S. counterterrorism partnership, as embodied in the recently announced U.S.-India Counterterrorism Cooperation Initiative to enhance collaboration, information sharing and capacity building. Secretary Clinton reiterated the continued U.S. commitment to provide full cooperation and support in ongoing counterterrorism investigations, including through continued exchanges of information between designated agencies and by bringing the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai terrorism attack to justice.

Secretary Clinton and Minister Krishna also acknowledged the global dimension of cyberspace, the increasing interdependency in the area of information technology, and the excellent progress made in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Dialogue by the Indo-U.S. Working Group in this regard. They reiterated the necessity of building on this momentum to strengthen cooperative efforts in the area of ICT in general and also to address emerging transnational cyber-security challenges.

Minister Krishna and Secretary Clinton expressed satisfaction with the strengthening of defense cooperation in recent years and stressed that security dialogues, service-level exchanges, and trade and technology transfer and collaboration on mutually determined terms were an intrinsic part of the strategic partnership and should be further strengthened. They welcomed the regular engagement of Armed Forces of both countries, including through conduct of joint military exercises. They recognized the scope for enhancement of defense trade between both countries to the mutual benefit of both sides.

Both countries pledged to continue to work together on areas of mutual interest including maritime security, counter-piracy, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and response. [MEA India Press Release].

India-US Sign Counter Terrorism Cooperation Initiative

India and the United States today signed the India-US Counter Terrorism Initiative, the text of which was initialed on the sidelines of the visit of the Prime Minister of India to the US in November, 2009. Union Home Secretary, Shri G.K. Pillai signed for India whereas Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer signed on behalf of the USA. Foreign Secretary, Ms. Nirupama Rao, was also present on the occasion.

The India-US Counter Terrorism Cooperation Initiative seeks to further enhance the cooperation between two countries in Counter Terrorism as an important element of their bilateral strategic partnership. The initiative, inter alia, provides for strengthening capabilities to effectively combat terrorism; promotion of exchanges regarding modernization of techniques; sharing of best practices on issues of mutual interest; development of investigative skills; promotion of cooperation between forensic science laboratories; establishment of procedures to provide mutual investigative assistance; enhancing capabilities to act against money laundering, counterfeit currency and financing of terrorism; exchanging best practices on mass transit and rail security; increasing exchanges between Coast Guards and Navy on maritime security; exchanging experience and expertise on port and border security; enhancing liaison and training between specialist Counter Terrorism Units including National Security Guard with their US counter parts.

Union Home Secretary recalled that during the visit of the Union Home Minister to the US during September, 2009, several areas for Counter Terrorism Cooperation between India and US, beyond the existing instrumentalities, were identified and which find full reflection in the agreed document. He described the MoU as an evidence of successful cooperation between India and US in Counter Terrorism and as being based upon the solid foundation of mutual benefit. Union Home Secretary also acknowledged the key role played by Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer in bringing the proposal to successful fruition. [PIB India Press Release].

U.S. and Indian law enforcement enhance partnership through joint antiterrorism seminar

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security, in partnership with the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), on May 13 concluded a two-week seminar on the role of police leaders in combating terrorism. The seminar was conducted by instructors from the Department of State's Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) program and hosted by the Central Reserve Police Force Academy in Gurgaon. 18 senior Indian law enforcement officials from federal and state agencies across India were selected by the MHA's Bureau of Police Research and Development to participate in the seminar.

At the conclusion of the seminar, U.S. Ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer remarked: "Terrorism is a crime that affects all countries, and training seminars such as this one are an excellent opportunity for the U.S. and India to build the official partnerships and personal relationships that can be critical in a time of crisis. This seminar is one of many such exchanges regularly organized between the Governments of India and the U.S. focusing on expanding our shared counter terror capabilities and combating transnational terror groups." Since 1995 the Bureau of Diplomatic Security's ATA program has conducted 79 police training courses for over 1500 Indian law enforcement officials. This month's training seminar highlights the ongoing U.S. - India commitment to fighting the scourge of international terrorism. [US Embassy in New Delhi Release].