(Image source from: deccanherald.com)

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale called on US National Security Advisor John Bolton to discuss the India and United States bilateral relations and strategic partnership and most importantly cross border terrorism and terror groups based out in Pakistan. It said that it will stands with India in its fight against terrorism.

“Met with Indian FS Gokhale to advance progress on the U.S.-India strategic partnership & our shared vision for the Indo-Pacific, as well as reiterate that the U.S. stands shoulder-to-shoulder with India in the fight against terrorism,” US National Security Advisor John Bolton said in a tweet.

After Pulwama terror attack US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and NSA John Bolton emerged as a strong voices to support India’s steps in fighting terrorism.

Indian Embassy in USA in a statement said that, "Both underlined the importance of Pakistan taking tangible and irreversible action against terrorist groups based in territories under its control and denial of safe haven for these groups to launch cross -border attacks."

However, on the other hand China for the fourth time blocked a proposal to get Jaish-e-Mohamed chief Masood Azhar list in a global terrorist by the UN Security Council on Wednesday March 13.

On March 11, Foreign Secretary Gokhale met Pompeo, and both countries agreed that Pakistan needs to take concerted action to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure and to deny safe haven to all terrorist groups in its territory. They also agreed that those who support or abet terrorism in any form should be held accountable.

After this meeting NSA Bolton tweeted, “Spoke with Pakistani FM Qureshi to encourage meaningful steps against JeM and other terrorist groups operating from Pakistan. The FM assured me that Pakistan would deal firmly with all terrorists and will continue steps to deescalate tensions with India.”

By Sai Kumar