India and US call for smashing terror networks like Lashkar-e-Taiba

India and the US today agreed that all terrorist networks, including Lashkar-e-Taiba, must be defeated and asked Pakistan to bring to justice the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks.

A joint statement issued at the end of official engagements of three days of President Barack Obama's maiden visit to India, the two countries emphasized the importance of close cooperation in combating terrorist financing and in protecting the international financial system.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Obama reiterated that success in Afghanistan and regional and global security require elimination of safe havens and infrastructure for terrorism and violent extremism in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"Condemning terrorism in all its forms, the two sides agreed that all terrorist networks, including Lashkar e-Taiba, must be defeated and called for Pakistan to bring to justice the perpetrators of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks.

"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 statement said.

Endorsing India's longstanding call for reform for UN Security Council and its quest for permanent membership, Singh and Obama favoured an "efficient, effective, credible UN to ensure a just and sustainable international order."

Singh welcomed Obama's affirmation that US looks forward to a reformed UN Security Council that includes India as a permanent member.

The two leaders reaffirmed that all nations, especially those that seek to lead in the 21st century bear responsibility to ensure that the UN fulfil its founding ideals of preserving peace and security, promoting global cooperation and advancing human rights.

Agreeing that their delegations in New York work together to ensure that the UN Security Council play an effective role, both the leaders underscore that all states have an obligation to comply with and implement UN Security Council resolutions including sanction regimes, said the statement.

Reaffirming their nations' shared values and increasing convergence of interests, Singh and Obama resolved to expand and strengthen the India-US global strategic partnership.

Building on the transformation in India-US relations over the past decade, the two leaders resolved to intensify cooperation between their nations to promote a secure and stable world; advance technology and innovation; expand mutual prosperity and global economic growth; support sustainable development; and exercise global leadership in support of economic development, open government and democratic values, it said.

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, the joint statement said.

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, it added.

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 two leaders expressed regret at the delay in starting negotiations in the conference on disarmament for a multilateral, non-discriminatory and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the future production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

India reaffirmed its unilateral and voluntary moratorium on nuclear explosive testing. The United States reaffirmed its testing moratorium and its commitment to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and bring it into force at an early date.

Singh and Obama concluded that their meeting is a historic milestone as they seek to elevate the India-US strategic  partnership to a new level for the benefit of their nations and the entire mankind, the statement said.

"The two leaders look forward to the next session of the US-India Strategic Dialogue in 2011," it said.