New Delhi, Delhi, India

India and United States on Friday underlined the need for Pakistan to take meaningful, irreversible and verifiable action against terrorists and terror groups operating from its soil.

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The two countries exchanged views on threats posed by international terrorist organisations during the US-India Counterterrorism Joint Working Group and Designations Dialogue that concluded here Friday.

The development comes against the backdrop of US introducing a draft resolution at the United Nation Security Council (UNSC) to list chief of Pakistan based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Masood Azhar in UN terror list.

A joint release after the 16th US-India Counterterrorism Joint Working Group meet and the second session of Designations Dialogue said, "two sides shared information about their priorities and procedures for pursuing sanctions and designations against terrorist groups and individuals."

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China had put a hold on Azhar's listing on March 13. Earlier in 2009, 2016 and 2017 Beijing had blocked the listing of Masood Azhar under the 1267 committee of UNSC.

US State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism Ambassador Nathan Sales & Joint Secretary in Ministry of External Affairs  Mahaveer Singhvi led the US and Indian delegations respectively.

Both sides also "underlined" the urgent need for "Pakistan to take meaningful, irreversible, and verifiable action" against terrorists and terrorist groups.

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It said the two sides discussed counterterrorism cooperation between them and resolved to continue close coordination on this important element of the bilateral relationship. 

Ambassador Sales emphasised US support for the "people and government of India in the fight against terrorism" with both New Delhi and Washington highlighting their efforts on "countering the financing and operations of terrorist organizations & terrorist use of the internet"

There was also discussion of strengthening cooperation on information sharing and other steps to disrupt the ability of terrorists to travel, consistent with the important provisions and obligations outlined in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2396.

The US, according to the statement, welcomed India's participation in international efforts to counter terrorism finance.

The two sides also shared information about their priorities and procedures for pursuing sanctions designations against terrorist groups and individuals, the statement said. 

The US extended its support to New Delhi's counter-terror measures in Pakistan's Balakot against Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camps on February 26 following Pulwama attack.

The last Meeting of India-US Joint Working Group on counter-terrorism took place in Delhi in March of 2018.