India and the United States on Friday underlined the need for Pakistan to take meaningful, irreversible and verifiable action against terrorists and terror groups operating from its soil.
The two countries exchanged views on threats posed by international terrorist organisations during the US-India Counterterrorism Joint Working Group and Designations Dialogue that concluded in Washington on Friday.
While the US delegation was led by State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism Ambassador Nathan Sales, the Indian side was headed by Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Mahaveer Singhvi.
“Both sides underlined the urgent need for Pakistan to take meaningful, irreversible, and verifiable action against terrorists and terrorist groups,” according to a joint statement.
It said the two sides discussed counter-terrorism cooperation between them and resolved to continue close coordination on this important element of the bilateral relationship.
Sales, according to the joint statement, emphasised the US support for the people and government of India in the fight against terrorism.
There was also discussion of strengthening cooperation on information sharing and other steps to disrupt the ability of terrorists to travel, consistent with the important provisions and obligations outlined in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2396.
Indian and US officials also highlighted their efforts on some of the world’s most pressing counter-terrorism challenges, including countering the financing and operations of terrorist organisations, terrorists’ use of the internet, and prosecuting, rehabilitating, and reintegrating returning foreign terrorist fighters, said the statement.
The US, it said, welcomed India’s participation in international efforts to counter terrorism finance.
The two sides also shared information about their priorities and procedures for pursuing sanctions designations against terrorist groups and individuals, the statement said.
The UN Security Council ordered countries worldwide to step up the fight against terrorism funding Thursday by ensuring they have laws that make it a serious crime to fund terrorist acts.
The council unanimously adopted a French-drafted resolution that was the first stand-alone measure dedicated specifically to counter the financing of terrorism.
The resolution calls on all states to “ensure that their domestic laws and regulations establish serious criminal offences” to prosecute those who collect funds or provide economic resources to terrorist organizations.
The UNSC resolution comes after the US on Wednesday circulated a draft resolution to the UN Security Council — with British and French support — to blacklist the JeM chief.
The draft resolution condemns the suicide bombing and decides that Azhar will be added to the UN Al-Qaeda and Islamic State sanctions blacklist.
The resolution urged countries to establish financial intelligence units to strengthen efforts to counter terrorism financing and to share information on their investigations.
(With agency inputs)