May 25, 2002	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 12,1423

WASHINGTON, May 24: The United States and India condemned the upsurge of “terrorist attacks against India” in a joint statement issued on Thursday after bilateral defence talks here.

“They agreed that terrorism and state support of terrorism remain a major threat to the security of their two countries,” the statement said.

“In this context, they noted the success of Operation Enduring Freedom and the broader war on terrorism, and condemned the recent upsurge in terrorist attacks against India.”

The statement made no direct mention of Pakistan.

It was issued at the end of a three-day meeting of senior US and Indian defence officials aimed at improving military relations between two countries that maintained a chilly, arms-length relationship during the Cold War.

The Bush administration has lifted sanctions imposed in 1998 after Pakistan and India conducted tit-for-tat nuclear tests, and US military sales have resumed. The two nations also have conducted combined naval patrols in the Strait of Malacca, joint special forces exercises in Agra and the Indians have attended a missile defence workshop in Colorado.

However, the effort has been overshadowed by the war in Afghanistan, and the vital role played by Pakistan and President Musharraf.—AFP