Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo discussed the importance of bringing those responsible for the terrorist attack in Pulwama, Jammu & Kashmir, to justice and the urgency of Pakistan taking meaningful action against terrorist groups operating on its soil, US government spokesperson said.
“Secretary Michael R Pompeo met today with Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale. Secretary Pompeo affirmed that the United States stands with the people and government of India in the fight against terrorism,” according to a statement by US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino circulated on Tuesday. They noted the strength of our partnership and discussed ways to further enhance cooperation, including on counter-terrorism, Palladino added.
The two also discussed their complementary visions for the Indo-Pacific, US-India defence cooperation and the growing US-India economic partnership, including joint efforts to expand bilateral trade in a balanced and reciprocal manner, the statement said.
Gokhale is on a three-day visit to Washington DC in connection with the bilateral Foreign Office Consultation and Strategic Security Dialogue with his US counterparts. “These are regular high-level dialogue mechanisms to review bilateral relations, exchange views on major foreign policy and security-related developments and coordinate respective positions on issues of common interest,” according to a Ministry of External Affairs release.
The meeting assumes greater importance due to the recent terror strike in Pulwama, Jammu & Kashmir, that killed 40 CRPF jawans and the following escalation of tension between India and Pakistan.