By IANS,
New Delhi : A senior US official called up India’s Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao Tuesday to discuss the forthcoming India-US homeland security dialogue, even as a trial on the November 2008 Mumbai terror attack has begun in the US.
According to sources, US Deputy Secretary for Homeland Security Jane Holl Lute spoke to Rao about 12.30 p.m. here.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will be leading the US side for the dialogue to be held here May 27.
The Indian side will be led by Home Minister P. Chidambaram.
Officials said that Jane Holl Lute and Rao reiterated that India and the US working together to address the challenge of terrorism is a strategic priority.
Further, this will strengthen cooperation for the security of the two countries and peoples.
A new dialogue on homeland security was announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama in October 2010.
India and the US have been cooperating in counter-terrorism initiatives since the 26/11 attack in Mumbai.
The questioning begins in Chicago Tuesday to select the jury for the trial of Pakistani-born Tahawwur Hussain Rana for aiding the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the November 2008 Mumbai. Over 100 prospective jurors are being interviewed for the purpose.