NEW DELHI: After Prime Minister Narendra Modi singled out Pakistan at multiple global forums such as the G20, BRICS and the East Asia Summit last week, Home Minister Rajnath Singh is visiting Russia and the US next week to mobilise global opinion against terrorism emanating from the neighbouring country. During his meeting with leaders of both countries, Rajnath will discuss efforts to counter the Islamic State group's growing threat in south Asia.
According to official sources, the minister will be in Russia for five days beginning September 18. There he will hold talks with Minister for Internal Affairs Vladimir Kolokoltsev and discuss issues related to the Indo-Russia joint anti-terror cooperation. They will also discuss cross-border terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir and and the IS threat. After that, he will travel to Washington on September 26 for a seven-day visit for the Indo-US Homeland Security Dialogue with his American counterpart Jeh Charles Johnson. “In both the bilateral visits to Russia and the US, the minister will highlight Pakistan’s direct involvement in cross-border terrorism and growing activities of the IS in India’s neighbourhood,” said a ministry official.
Real-time intelligence sharing, extradition, visa liberalisation, cyber security and critical infrastructure protection, countering illicit finance, global supply chain security, megacity policing and science and technology are some other issues to be discussed at the meetings in Moscow and Washington.
In the US, Rajnath and his delegation will discuss two key recently signed agreements. The Global Entry, a US Customs and Border Protection programme, permits speedy clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers upon arrival in America. Homeland Security Presidential Directive-6 allows access to information on terrorists.
The US has been keen on including India in the Global Entry programme so that top dignitaries like former presidents, former prime ministers, former Union ministers, film stars, top industrialists and frequent flyers could visit America without any hassle.