Kerry, Sushma co-chair talks as India, US reaffirm need for Pakistan to fight terror

India and US today reaffirmed the urgent need for Pakistan to dismantle safe havens for terrorists.

Hitting out at Pakistan and accusing it of sponsoring terror, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that no nation should have double standards on the issue of terrorism.

"We agreed that nations must not maintain double standards, such as the categorization of good and bad terrorists," the minister said at a joint news conference with her US counterpart John Kerry.

"I briefed Secretary Kerry on the continuing problem of cross-border terrorism that India and the larger region faces from Pakistan. He and I agreed that Pakistan needs to take fast track actions to catch perpetrators of 2008 Mumbai attack and 2016 Pathankot attack," Sushma Swaraj added.

Reiterating Swaraj's stance, John Kerry said that one cannot discriminate between good and bad terrorists.

"US and India are of similar minds. Perpetrators of all terrorist activities should be brought to justice. A terrorist is a terrorist, no matter when the terrorist comes from," Kerry said.

"US stands in strong partnership with India against all terrorism. I've talked to Pakistan prime minister and General Raheel Sharif for the need for Pakistan to deprive any group (terrorist) of sanctuary," he added.

On the escalating tension between India and Pakistan, Sushma Swaraj blamed Pakistan for refusing to cooperate with India over several issues.

"The tension between India and Pakistan is not created from our side. We told Pakistan that we wish to resolve everything peacefully. Talks and terror cannot go hand in hand," she said.

EYE ON CLIMATE CHANGE PACT

Climate change, clean energy and full implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement led by Obama and Modi were also discussed at length. Washington wants an early ratification of the climate change protocol before a new regime takes over after the Presidential elections on November 8. The fear being if Donald Trump wins the election, reverse brakes could be applied on a climate change agreement that has been very close to Obama's heart.

But Delhi has linked its climate change commitments to supply of nuclear fuel to meet the demands of green energy. India hoped that America could do some diplomatic heavy lifting on its behalf to woo the Chinese for India's membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

In her opening remarks Sushma Swaraj said, "Our two countries share the same democratic ethos of freedom, equality, pluralism and rule of law. India's enhanced global role is in our mutual interest. It is in this context, we look forward to continue working closely with the US to secure our membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and permanent membership of the UN Security Council."

According to sources privy to discussions, US President Barack Obama could likely take up India's NSG bid issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the East Asia Summit in Laos instead of at the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China on September 4-5.

CYBER SECURITY, VISAS DISCUSSED

India also urged the American delegation to find a just and non-discriminatory solution to issues of totalization and recent fee hike for H1B and L1 visas that affected people-to-people exchanges vital to the bilateral relationship. The issue was taken up at the Strategic Round as well as Commercial Round co chaired by Minister of State for Commerce Nirmala Sitharaman and US Commerce Secretary Penny Preitzker.

Just hours after the long pending logistics exchange agreement (LEMOA) was signed between Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his counterpart Ashton Carter in DC, Kerry welcomed India as 'major Defence partner'. The two sides agreed to cyber security agreement to deal with changing face of cyber threats and allow cooperation between law enforcement agencies. "We are witnessing a moment that defines for certain a very different and renewed relation between US and India and this has energised our relationship," Kerry added.