Internal security

After wrapping up her a two-day visit to Mumbai, the site of the November 2008 terrorist attacks by 10 gunmen that killed more than 160 people, US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has begun the operative part of her trip. She begins a new chapter of cooperation for strengthening internal security with India. She will hold talks with Home Minister P. Chidambaram for the first formal dialogue on internal security between the two countries. The US-India strategic dialogue is expected to further communication and information-sharing ties on counterterrorism and security issues.

After her stop in Mumbai, where she shared views on coastal security and training in counterinsurgency, Napolitano headed to New Delhi to launch a new initiative to increase information-sharing between both countries on security issues.

Enhancing security

While combating illicit financing and enhancing cyber security are on the agenda, security experts feel that discussions on the recent killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and information sharing in the region will dominate the agenda.

The talks coincide with the trial in Chicago of Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana during which Pakistani-born American terrorist David Coleman Headley has linked Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist group.

Ajay Sahni, India’s foremost expert on counter-terrorism, believes the talks come "at a time which is extremely laden. We have of course the trial ongoing in Chicago, you have had the Abbottabad incident, you have had tremendous undeniable focus on Pakistan’s role in promoting terrorism. And I think this will be the focus of discussions substantially here and the two sides are going to discuss what impact this has on the internal security in both countries."

Issues of mutual interest

The two delegations will also discuss issues of mutual interest including coastal security, mega city policing, cyber security, accessing and sharing data related to terrorism and mutual assistance in investigations including in the Mumbai terror attacks.

Sahni points out that the US is an invaluable partner in these areas. He says, "This has been a long term point of cooperation, collaboration and discussion with the Americans because we recognize they have a tremendous capability outstripping anything that we can do ourselves." Sahni adds, "This has been a point of discussion in all meetings of the joint working groups in the past and meetings with people who are involved in the security administration in the US on all their visits to India."

During his visit to India in November last year, President Barack Obama called for closer ties on counter-terrorism.

Closer ties on counter-terrorism

But now Napolitano's visit comes amid tense relations between the United States and Pakistan, who is the US' key ally in the fight against terrorism and India's main regional rival.

Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram says Pakistan is not ready to talk about substantive issues related to terrorism and safety in the region and that he feels the army is the stumbling block. He believes the army is likely to allow a large degree of latitude for the peace talks "as long as it concerns issues like prisoners, fishermen, visas, cross-border trade, import-export and that kind of thing. But whether they will allow latitude to the civilian government to seriously engage in substantive issues, I can’t say. I doubt it."

Following Bin Laden’s killing India believes it has to be prepared to face problems as many other potential terrorists have found sanctuary in Pakistan and could foment trouble.

Author: Murali Krishnan
Editor: Sarah Berning