External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday(December 19) said that the counter-terrorism efforts between India and the UShave been boosted by growing consensus on the nature of terror threats in the region and dangers of cross-border terrorism, while addressing a joint press conference with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and US counterparts, Mike Pompeo and Mark Esper after the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

The External Affairs Minister said, "Our counter-terrorism efforts were also discussed at today`s meeting and these have been boosted by growing consensus on the nature of terror threats in the region and dangers of cross-border terrorism and sanctuaries."

Jaishankar said he appreciates "very much" the sentiments expressed by Secretary Pompeo on the 11th anniversary of 26/11Mumbai attack, adding "We discussed ways to address these challengesincluding by working closely together at the Financial Action Task Force(FATF). We also took note of exchanges between our judicial academies for theappreciation of challenges and evolving practices in adjudicatingcounter-terrorism cases."

Stressing that people to people ties have been one ofdefining elements of India-US friendship, he said, "We take great pride inthe achievements of the Indians and Indian Americans in the US and their contribution American society, economy and polity."

"We have arrived at a common intent to facilitate regular exchanges between our parliamentarians and also to provide to shortterm internship opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs through dedicatedprograms," he said.

The Minister also expressed gratefulness to Secretary Pompeofor reiterating US government`s support to Chabahar project in Iran, adding"I am very grateful to Secretary Pompeo for reiterating the USgovernment`s support to the Chabahar project which will immensely benefitAfghanistan. We reviewed the ongoing cooperation in all areas of the interfaceof foreign policy and defence."

He highlighted that recent months have seen fiveministerial-level visits between the two sides apart from the institutionaliseddialogues and parliamentary exchanges which demonstrate the intensity of theengagement.

"Among the key issues that we discussed today was theIndo-Pacific including ways to leverage our respective strengths to benefit notjust our two countries but the entire region. Our cooperation is aimed atadvancing a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific basedon the recognition of ASEAN centrality," said Jaishankar.

The Minister said the two countries have also agreed topromote UN peacekeeping capacity building of "our partners in theIndo-Pacific expanding on a successful programme of trilateral cooperation thatboth of us did with the African countries."

"We had a brief discussion on trade. Our bilateraltrade has registered a double-digit growth of late. There are ongoingnegotiations on the subject of trade and I am very confident that we will finda balanced outcome that satisfies both sides," he said.