Pentagon willing to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation with India

Pentagon has expressed willingness to enhance its co-operation with India in the fields of maritime security and counter-terrorism.

In a report submitted to the US Congress, Pentagon has identified maritime security and counter-terrorism co-operation as an important pillar of military to military co-operation between the two countries. It said,on the counter-terrorism front, the United States continues to focus on Al-Qaeda and other terrorist threats that emanate from South Asia.

The report said, for some of these groups, particularly Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), India remains the primary target. LeT’s activities continue to threaten US interests and South Asian regional stability also.

Therefore, US will continue to follow the guidance of its National Strategy for Counter-terrorism which calls for joining with key partners, like India, to share the burdens of common security goals.

The Pentagon said that the US Navy would like to work with the Indian Navy to improve capabilities to perform higher-end, operational missions in the Indian Ocean region as the strategic context dictates.

Counter-terrorism and intelligence sharing with Russia Counter-terrorism and intelligence sharing with Russia

Following the signing of a protocol between the Security Council Secretariats of India and the Russian Federation in April 2000, our National Security Advisor and the Secretary of Russian Security Council have been meeting regularly. Secretary of the Russian Security Council Mr. Nikolai Patrushev and the National Security Advisor Shri Shivshankar Menon met in New Delhi on 1st February 2010. They reviewed the progress in bilateral relations in the strategic sphere such as defence and nuclear energy cooperation. In addition, they also discussed mechanisms for strengthening cooperation so that terror attacks can be thwarted more effectively.

Interesting read: Robert Gates and Pakistani military leadership during his visit to Pakistan

On, Jan. 22, 2010, US Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates addressed Pakistan's so called "rising military leaders" who were attending the Pakistan National Defense University. These are excerpts from of the release by Donna Miles, American Forces Press Service

"The main reason I'm here today is to have a conversation – to hear your thoughts and to answer any questions you may have about us – about our goals and future plans concerning this region," Gates said in opening his remarks.

After presenting his prepared remarks, Gates dismissed the media from the room so he and the Pakistani officers could have an open exchange. Their questions ran the gamut, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters after the session.

One officer asked Gates to explain his statement earlier this week in New Delhi, where he said India demonstrated "great restraint and statesmanship" following the 2008 Mumbai bombings, but could be hard-pressed not to react more strongly – even violently-- if a similar incident occurred again.

Another asked Gates if the United States would be willing to intervene to relieve long-simmering Indian-Pakistani tensions – something Gates said both countries have expressed they'd rather deal with themselves.

Several of the questions concerned Afghanistan – from Gates' thoughts about reconciliation with the Taliban, to how to grow and sustain the Afghan national army despite lack of Afghan resources to support the effort.

One of the more provocative participants challenged Gates about the difficulties "the American war" in Afghanistan has put on Pakistan. "The tone of it was, ... 'We are in this mess because of you,'" Morrell said.

Gates "took great exception" to the comment, telling the officer problems created by the Taliban government in Afghanistan, as well as al Qaida and its affiliates, were going to impact Pakistan.

"It was only a matter of time before they were dragged into it as well, because al Qaida had designs on a caliphate" that inevitably included Pakistan, Morrell said. "The notion that you could be immune from them – that grand plan – is not realistic," he said.