Defense, trade, terror top agenda; Concerns on Russia, Iran sanctions highlighted

NEW DELHI(TIP): India and the United States on Thursday, September 6, sought greater political convergence with a long-term view of relations and enhanced synergy between respective foreign and defense ministries through the inaugural 2+2 dialogue.

Defense Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and James Mattis and Foreign Ministers Sushma Swaraj and Michael Pompeo sat down for separate discussions before the 2+2 dialogue.

Three sessions on energy and people-to-people ties, defense and regional security were part of the dialogue that included all four principals and their delegations.

Followed by lunch and joint press statements, the leaders collectively called on PM Modi. According to sources, there was no laundry list of irritants to be resolved overnight, rather shared understanding of mutual concerns as regards trade ties, reducing the deficit, visas, US sanctions against Iran and Russia as well as counter-terrorism cooperation and Indo-Pacific strategy.

Pompeo shared notes following his meetings with Pakistan PM Imran Khan and Army Chief Bajwa in Islamabad en route Delhi and the missives shared to act on terror and towards reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan.

“On the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 attacks, we recognized the importance of justice and retribution for the masterminds behind this terrorist attack,” said Swaraj.

“India supports President Trump’s South Asia Policy. His call for Pakistan to stop its policy of supporting cross-border terrorism finds resonance with us,” she added.

Pompeo reportedly mentioned that “it is too early to judge the new Imran Khan government, but Pakistan has been asked to step up counter-terrorism efforts and encouraged to take right decisions and actions”.

“Pompeo assured the ministers that ‘we have a long ask of the new Pakistan government’, while sharing concerns about Hafiz Saeed roaming freely,” said an official privy to discussions.

India has asked the US to sustain pressure on Islamabad to crack down on terror entities, sources say.

The sentiments are reflected in the joint statement issued after talks in a significant tweak.

India impressed upon the US to use “under Pakistan control, instead of territory” referring to terror groups operating out of PoK and driving home territorial integrity issue, pointed out officials. “The ministers denounced any use of terrorist proxies in the region, and in this context, they called on Pakistan to ensure that the territory under its control is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries,” underlines the statement that was work in progress till late into the night.

Ties with Iran and Russia came up for discussion from the Indian side during the dialogue, but without any specific mention of the S400 missiles purchase, sources said.

Americans reportedly shared India’s position that its defense security systems or energy suppliers could not be switched overnight to US platforms. But India assured it was working to reduce high bilateral trade deficit that Donald Trump has disapproved of openly.

Indian officials sounded hopeful of a carve out on Chabahar port, given its strategic importance to Afghanistan, to avoid heat of US sanctions against Iran.