U.S. and India agree to working group on counter-terrorism.

January 20, 2000
Web posted at: 7:59 AM HKT (2359 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States and India agreed Wednesday to establish a joint working group on counter-terrorism which will hold its first working meeting in Washington early next month, said State Department spokesman James Rubin.

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India-Pakistan relations

The two nations also agreed to work together "to ensure that the perpetrators of the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 were brought to justice," said Rubin.

In addition, Indian Minister of External Affairs of India Mr. Jaswant Singh and Deputy U.S. Secretary of State Strobe Talbott discussed an arrangement to plan in detail for a visit to India by President Bill Clinton later this year.

Singh and Talbott met in London Tuesday and Wednesday, according to US officials, to discuss security, non-proliferation, disarmament and related issues.

The anti-terrorism accord followed a similar cooperation pledge Singh made with British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook in London last Friday.

Pakistan has denied Indian claims that it masterminded the hijacking in December. The 154 passengers and crew were freed after India released a jailed Pakistani Muslim cleric and two militants.