India-US agree on joint efforts in dismantling of safe havens for terrorist networks

Washington: At a joint media appearance with Obama, Modi expressed the hope that India-US relations will make fast progress. "Both of us are committed taking forward the civil nuclear partnership agreement. We are serious about resolving at the earliest issues relating to civil nuclear energy cooperation. This is important for India for meeting energy security needs," he said.

The Indo-US nuclear deal concluded between the previous Manmohan Singh government and the Bush Administration has been stalled because of issues relating to libality laws. At the same time, Modi said that he had requested Obama to "take such steps which would ensure easier access to Indian companies in the service sector in the US market".

Read: PM Narendra Modi seeks easier access for Indian services cos to US economy

In the defence sector, the prime minister said both the sides decided to take forward the dialogue in security and defence. He invited the US defence companies to participate in Indian defence manufacturing sector to help in its development. India has recently raised the foreign investment cap in the defence sector from 26 to 49 per cent. Sharing concerns over the threat of terrorism in South Asia and emerging challenges in West Asia, where Islamist group ISIS has been on the rampage, Modi said the two countries agreed to intensify cooperation in counter terrorism and intelligence sharing. Obama said India was emerging as a major power for peace and security in the region. Both of them had a candid discussion about WTO issues.

"India supports trade facilitation but it is my wish that a solution should take care of our food security concerns. I am sure that it is possible to do that early." "I am looking forward to building up on relationship and make more progress," he said. The President said the two leaders discussed various issues including trade and economic cooperation, cooperate in exploration of space and scientific developments especially to deal with challenges like Ebola.

After the meeting between Modi and Obama, officials made it clear that India was not going to join "any coalition" in fight against terrorism in West Asia.

Likewise, they clarified that a trilateral partnership agreed on Afghanistan, would be developmental in nature and not military cooperation. They also said that the "joint and concerted efforts" on dismantling safe havens for terrorist groups and criminal networks do not mean that India and the US were not going to launch operations but carry out any UN-mandated task.

Modi and Obama, whose discussions covered a broad range of issues including cooperation in defence, security, energy economic and space, took a significant decision to break the impasse on implementation of civil nuclear deal. "We are serious about resolving issues on both sides in civil nuclear energy cooperation. This is important to India for meeting energy security needs," Modi said.

An inter-agency contact group will be set up to address the issues of liability, administrative and technical issues. From the Indian side, agencies like DAE, MEA and Finance Ministry will be involved. "We are setting up an inter-agency contact group to be able to resolve all issues that are outstanding and hindering the rapid deployment of US-origin nuclear reactors in India, that includes by liability, it includes administrative issues and it includes technical issues," Vikram Doraiswami, Joint Secretary (Americas), in the MEA, told reporters while briefing on the meeting between Modi and Obama. Doraiswamy said while India was not going to join any coalition against terrorism, the two sides had agreed on the need to deal with "travellers of terrorism" – radicalised people who travel for participating in terror activities in West Asia.

"This is a very major issue for us," he said. On Afghanistan, Modi and Obama discussed the political, security and economic transition which is underway. "We continue to be very supportive of the transition process in Afghanistan," the Indian official said. Holding that India and the US are natural global partners, the two countries extended defence cooperation for another 10 years. Modi invited US companies to participate in defence manufacturing sector in India, which has recently raised the FDI cap from 26 to 49 per cent.

Also Read: India's food security concern at WTO needs solution: PM Modi

Expanding on the strategic partnership, Obama said India meets the standards of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and is "now ready" for the membership of the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), a 48-member body which controls global nuclear trade. Obama also reaffirmed US support for India's membership of the expanded UN Security Council and backed it for "voice and vote" in international financial institutions like IMF and World Bank.

During the meeting, Modi asked Obama to take steps, which would ensure easier access to Indian companies in services sector in the US markets.

Pledging to intensify cooperation in counter-terrorism and security, the two countries agreed to step up intelligence sharing.

US will also cooperate as knowledge partner for India's planned National Defence University as well as technology partner in Indian Navy.

The US will also participate in expansion of India's infrastructure projects.

The US will also be the lead partner in developing Allahabad, Ajmer and Visakhapatnam as 'Smart Cities'. The two countries will also cooperate in the Mars Mission.

In the economic area, the two countries discussed FDI and portfolio investment and participation in Indian manufacturing sector, in tune with Modi's 'Make in India' campaign.

They also agreed on cooperation between their central banks on regulation of their financial institutions and cross-border banking arrangements.

The US will also participate in India's endeavour in the renewable energy sectors with one billion dollars being pledged by the EXIM bank.

The two sides also agreed to set up Water and Sanitation Alliance (WASH). 

Modi and Obama pledged to push the bilateral relationship to "new levels".

At a joint media appearance with Obama, Modi expressed the hope that India-US relations will make fast progress.

"Both of us are committed taking forward the civil nuclear partnership agreement.  We are serious about resolving at the earliest issues relating to civil nuclear energy cooperation. This is important for India for meeting energy security needs," he said.

The Indo-US nuclear deal concluded between the previous Manmohan Singh government and the Bush Administration has been stalled because of issues relating to liability laws.

Obama said India was emerging as a major power for peace and security in the region.

Both of them had a candid discussion about WTO issues.

"India supports trade facilitation but it is my wish that a solution should take care of our food security concerns. I am sure that it is possible to do that early."

"I am looking forward to building up on relationship and make more progress," he said.

The President said the two leaders discussed various issues including trade and economic cooperation, cooperate in exploration of space and scientific developments especially to deal with challenges like Ebola.

Obama said he was impressed by Modi's pro-poor policies and efforts to revitalize the Indian economy.

"Throughout this conversation, I’ve been impressed with the Prime Minister’s interest in not only addressing the needs of the poorest of the poor in India and revitalizing the economy there but also its determination to make sure that India is serving as a major power that can help bring about peace and security for the entire world. So I want to wish him luck in what I’d sure will be a challenging but always interesting tenure as prime minister in India, Obama said.

“I’m very grateful for the friendship between the United States and India, and I’m looking forward to building on this meeting so that we can continue to promote progress in both countries and around the world.”

Obama said the two leaders have had an outstanding discussion around a range of issues.

“During our discussions, we reaffirmed that, as two of the world’s largest democracies, vibrant people-to-people contacts between India and the United States, including an incredible Indian-American population that contributes so much, that we have so much in common it is critical for us to continue to deepen and broaden the existing framework of partnership and friendship that already exists,” the President said.

Last night, during a private dinner, Obama said he and Modi spent most of their time talking about the economy.

“We agreed that, in both countries, one of our primary goals is to improve education and job training so that our young people can compete in the global marketplace. The Prime Minister shared with me his vision for lifting what is still too many Indians who are locked in poverty into a situation in which their lives can improve,” he added.

Obama said they also time talking about the international situation and security issues.

“We addressed challenges in the Middle East and violent extremism and the fight against ISIL.”

They also discussed issues of trade, and issues of making sure that maritime rules are observed. And the two leaders discussed how they can continue to work together on a whole host of issues, from space exploration and scientific endeavour to dealing with humanitarian crises like Ebola in West Africa.

After their Summit talks, Modi was hosted a lunch by Vice President Joe Biden in which Secretary of State John Kerry was present.

Addressing the luncheon, Modi said India is committed to fulfilling the hopes and aspirations that the world, especially the US, has with regard to the country.