Stakes are high in Indo-US partnership: Hillary

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday said that the US condemned the recent terror-related attack in Mumbai, which claimed 20 lives and left over 130 injured, in the strongest possible terms. 

Delivering her opening statement during a joint press conference with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna at the Hyderabad House in Delhi, Clinton said, "We send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims.  And we pledge our support to the Indian government however we can in protecting its cities and citizens from future harm." 

She further said: "We are allies in the fight against violent extremist networks.  And, homeland security is a high priority and a source of increasing partnership."

"That's why we signed the Counterterrorism Cooperative Initiative to increase our cooperation on the investigation of crimes, law enforcement, border management and cyber security.  And, in May, US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano came to New Delhi to launch with you (India) the first-ever US-India Homeland Security Dialogue, to bring order and urgency to our shared efforts.  The events in Mumbai have driven home how important it is that we get results," the secretary of state said. 

"And that's true across every aspect of our engagement.  The United States joined India in this Strategic Dialogue because we believe, as President Obama has said, that the relationship between India and the United States will be a defining partnership in the 21st century. The stakes are high. So, it is critical that this dialogue leads to concrete and coordinated steps that each of our governments takes to produce real results that make a difference in our people's lives.  Because that's ultimately what this is all about-- joining forces to protect our citizens and help every man, woman, and child live up to their God-given potential," she added.

Clinton read out her statement after the second US-India Strategic Dialogue that was  held in Delhi on Tuesday morning.

The dialogue is said to have focussed on a host of issues, including ways to expand counter-terror cooperation, speeding of implementation of the landmark India-US civil nuclear deal, enhancing bilateral cooperation in energy, agriculture, commerce and monsoon data sharing etc.

India and the US are reported to have discussed an entire gamut of issues, including strategic cooperation, counter-terrorism, energy and climate change, education, science and technology, health and defence, officials said.

Clinton arrived in New Delhi late on Monday night from Athens, Greece, on what is her second visit to India as Secretary of State. She was received by Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, India's Ambassador to the United States Meera Shankar and other senior officials.

During her visit, she will also call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Both sides are likely to sign key pacts in the areas of cyber security and civil aviation after the talks, said sources.

Clinton was assisted at the talks by US Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper and Deputy Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security Jane Holl Lute, besides others.

Krishna was assisted by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Adviser to the Prime MinisterSam Pitroda, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, Foreign Secretary-designate Ranjan Mathai, the secretaries of home, commerce and environment ministries and  Nehchal Sandhu, Director, Intelligence Bureau.