US-India Homeland Security dialogue begins

The first US-India Homeland Security dialogue began here on Friday during which Home Minister P Chidambaram and his American counterpart Janet Napolitano deliberated on issues like mutual assistance in probes like the Mumbai terror attacks and counter-terrorism.

Combating trans-national crime, countering illicit financing, accessing and sharing of data relating to terrorism are among key issues on the agenda of the day-long meeting.

Other issues like coastal security, cyber security, mega city policing, providing homeland security equipment to each other and capacity building are also being discussed during the deliberations.

Napolitano, who arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday, is the first top official from the US to visit India after President Barack Obama toured the country in November last year.

Chidambaram had visited the US in January 2009 when he had extensive discussions with Napolitano.