Washington, June 7

US President Barack Obama, who held over hour-long talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here, today promised to cooperate with India against terrorist threats from groups such as Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba as well as ‘D’ Company, a reference to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.”In this context, they (the two leaders) directed their officials to identify specific new areas of collaboration at the next meeting of US-India Counterterrorism Joint Working Group,” said a joint statement issued after the talks.Significantly, the American side also committed itself to treating Pathankot attack on a par with 26/11 terror strike in terms of ensuring punishment to perpetrators based in Pakistan.The two countries also decided to start work on construction of six American nuclear reactors in India amid affirmation that the Liability issue has been addressed.Six pacts, including one on exchange of screening of terror information, besides two other documents were signed after the talks that mainly covered issues such as terrorism, clean energy, climate change, defence, regional security, cyber security, economic ties and people-to-people contacts.Addressing the media jointly with Modi at his Oval office, Obama said it was natural for India and the US, two biggest democracies, to “deepen and broaden” partnership.Progress made in the Civil Nuclear agreement was among the issues discussed, Obama said. Obama underlined that India needs technology, which is critical for its progress and prosperity. — PTI

Tribute to Kalpana

• PM Modi laid a wreath at the Tomb of Unknown Soldiers and paid homage to Indian-American astronaut late Kalpana Chawla at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington. “Honouring sacrifice, saluting valour. Formal engagements begin with a solemn ceremony,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted

US returns artifacts

• The US has returned to India over 200 stolen cultural artifacts, some dating back 2,000 years, estimated at $100 million. Items returned included religious statues, bronzes and terra-cotta pieces, looted from some of India’s most treasured religious sites
• Among the pieces returned is a statue of Saint Manikkavichavakar, a Hindu mystic and poet from the Chola period (circa 850 AD to 1250 AD) stolen from the Sivan Temple in Chennai, valued at $1.5 million and a bronze sculpture of Hindu god Ganesh estimated to be 1,000-year-old