India and US Strengthen Cybersecurity Ties with New Pact

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New Delhi – In a significant move, the United States and India have signed a pact aimed at enhancing cooperation in combating cybercrime ahead of the presidential transition to Donald Trump. The agreement was formalized in Washington and allows for increased collaboration on cyber threat intelligence and digital forensics to address challenges like terrorism, violent extremism, and terror financing.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed by Indian Ambassador Vinay Kwatra and Acting US Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie Canegallo, underscores both nations' commitment to strengthening security ties. The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre under the Union Home Ministry will oversee the implementation of this MoU, while the US Department of Homeland Security and its related agencies will carry out the pact on their side.

This agreement marks the second recent development reflecting the growing relationship between the two countries, following the US's lifting of restrictions on three Indian nuclear entities earlier this week. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that cybercrime is intricately linked to a range of common security challenges, including drug trafficking, organized crime, and human trafficking.

As India and the US move forward in their strategic partnership, enhanced cooperation in cybersecurity is expected to play a crucial role in addressing these shared concerns.

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