US and India to Talk About Homeland Security on February 28 in New Delhi
Top officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in India and the Homeland Security (HSS) in the United States (US) will meet on Wednesday to discuss collaboration in the area of internal security, amidst the ongoing dispute between the two countries over the purported attempt on the life of Khalistani advocate Gurpatwant Singh Panun.
The Homeland Security Dialogue between Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and US counterpart Kristie Canegallo is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on February 28. This was verified by officials to CNN-News18.
The 20th Meeting of the India-US Joint Working Group on Counterterrorism and the 5th Designations Dialogue will take place early in 2019 at a mutually agreeable date, according to the Ministers. The Fifth Annual India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in November of last year was followed by a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stating that leaders would advance security cooperation through capacity building and other activities in the next edition of the Homeland Security Dialogue in 2024.
TOP FOCUS KHALISTAN
India’s top debate topic would be Khalistani terror theories, officials informed CNN-News18. Over fifty supporters of Khalistan have been recognized by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as having assaulted the San Francisco embassy. One of India’s main priorities is locating the others and making sure they are all prosecuted.
On the other side, the US demands that those responsible for the purported attempt on Pannun’s life be held accountable. Chief of the FBI Christopher A. Wray met with the directors of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse (NIA) during a December visit to India last year. Sources claim that although an official statement from the NIA excluded any particular conversation on Pannun, cooperation over Indian lawbreakers who are on the run was addressed.
Cyberterrorism, Narcotics, and Tradition
Also, India is promoting Tahawwur Rana’s extradition as a suspect in the 26/11 attack. Rana’s appeal against extradition was denied by a US court, and India is expected to bring up the subject of quick procedures in this respect.
Issues related to cyber security, drugs, human trafficking, immigration, and child sex exploitation will be discussed, according to officials. The discussion will focus on improving evidence sharing and collaboration in counterterrorism investigations, and participants will include representatives from the NIA, CBI, intelligence agencies, and MHA.
