US, India Security Advisors Talk Counterterrorism, Nuclear Cooperation

US National Security Advisor held a meeting with an Indian counterpart to discuss joint cooperation in counterterrorism and nuclear fields.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US National Security Advisor Susan Rice met with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to discuss joint counterterrorism cooperation and the Obama administration’s support for India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group and Missile Technology Control Regime, the White House announced in a statement on Wednesday.

"Ambassador Rice and NSA Doval exchanged views on the terrorist threat posed by Daesh in the region and the importance of combatting the ideology that fuels such groups," the statement said "They also discussed US-India counterterrorism cooperation, including against Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed."

The two national security leaders met on Monday ahead of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC. The White House also noted that the pair discussed their views on "the prospects for commercial progress" in 2016 under the US-India civil nuclear cooperation.

Leaders from around the world will gather in the US capital from March 31 to April 1 for the fourth Nuclear Security Summit to discuss reducing the threat of nuclear terrorism. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the Summit as well as leaders from Turkey, the United Kingdom, Japan and South Korea.

A 2005 US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement, dubbed a 123 Agreement, separates Indian civil nuclear facilities from its military facilities. The agreement safeguards all of India’s civil nuclear facilities under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in exchange for Washington's full civil nuclear cooperation with Delhi.