Quad, US back India in war against terror, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• Quad Counter Terrorism Working Group met in Delhi this week, including officials from India, US, Japan, and Australia, to expand cooperation in combating terrorism.
• India and the US held a Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on counter-terrorism and designations on December 3 in New Delhi.
• India and the US sought additional punitive measures against Pakistan-based terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad.
• The US State Department designated The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of LeT, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).

Detailed Insights:

• The meetings occurred amidst strained ties between India and the US over punitive tariffs, highlighting the importance of counter-terrorism cooperation.
• India and the US called for additional designations of ISIS and Al-Qaeda affiliates, emphasizing the need to strengthen multilateral cooperation in counterterrorism.
• The two sides renewed their commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation in counterterrorism, including in the UN, Quad and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
• Discussions included traditional and emerging threats like terrorist recruitment, abuse of technology, and financing of terrorism, focusing on strengthening cooperation through training and information sharing.
• The meetings underscored the importance of bilateral cooperation in countering terrorism, reflecting the “spirit and breadth” of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Cross-border terrorism: Terrorist acts that originate in or involve crossing national borders.
• Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO): A foreign organization designated by the US Secretary of State for engaging in terrorist activity.
• Financial Action Task Force (FATF): An inter-governmental body establishing international standards to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.