India and the United States are set to engage in a crucial dialogue on homeland security on Wednesday.
Led by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and his American counterpart, the discussions in the national capital will cover a wide range of topics. These include cooperation in counterterrorism efforts, cybersecurity initiatives, addressing concerns related to Sikh radicals, boosting aviation security, and ensuring the security of global supply chains, among others.
The dialogue marks an opportunity for India to express concerns about the exploitation of digital platforms by terrorist outfits for radicalization, recruitment, and financing of illegal activities. Additionally, officials from India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) will seek collaboration opportunities with counterparts from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
India will emphasize the challenges posed by cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, including banking systems, railways, power grids, energy facilities, and healthcare institutions. Notably, there have been instances of cyberattacks originating from countries like China, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Myanmar, with breaches reported in government-operated institutions like the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
A senior official raised concerns about data sovereignty, citing instances of misuse of Indian data by Chinese lending apps and online investment fraud. The dialogue provides a platform for India to address these issues with the US, reinforcing bilateral cooperation in combating cyber threats and terrorism.
Previously, discussions between National Investigation Agency Director General Dinkar Gupta and FBI Director Christopher Wray highlighted the nexus between terrorist organizations and organized criminal syndicates. Gupta mentioned US authorities’ ongoing probe into the attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco by Pro-Khalistan elements, underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts in tackling such threats.
(Inputs from ANI)