Washington, Dec 11 (NationPress) The United States and India are enhancing their collaboration on counterterrorism and intelligence-sharing initiatives, according to insights shared with lawmakers by senior experts.

During a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia focused on the US–India strategic partnership, prominent American authorities on South Asia cautioned that Pakistan's ongoing utilization of militant proxies, along with China's growing influence in the region, necessitates a closer alignment between Washington and New Delhi.

Sameer Lalwani from the German Marshall Fund informed committee members that the counterterrorism cooperation between the two nations has been ongoing since the Mumbai attacks in 2008 and today includes aspects such as law enforcement, intelligence sharing, counterterrorism, and counterterror financing.

He pointed out India's strong collaboration with the United States at the Financial Action Task Force and mentioned the role of the Combined Maritime Force, which he noted is undertaking significant operations against illicit trafficking, including arms, drugs, and financing that support terrorism.

Lalwani further remarked that India's capabilities are swiftly advancing, with new space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance technologies, alongside AI applications for improved data integration, enabling both nations to address threats more promptly. As these systems develop, he predicted, we will witness enhanced deterrence and counterterrorism efforts.

Committee Chairman Bill Huizenga emphasized the growing momentum in bilateral cooperation, noting that the United States and India recently convened the 21st Joint Working Group on Counterterrorism, where officials addressed emerging threats, terror recruitment, and financing. He stated that this dialogue signifies considerable opportunities to bolster operational, intelligence, and policy coordination.

However, along with optimism, the testimonies included stern warnings, particularly concerning Pakistan.

Dhruva Jaishankar from ORF America told lawmakers that Pakistan has a long-established record of deploying non-state terrorist proxies against India. He emphasized that India's prior experiences indicate that third-party mediation often exacerbates Pakistan's militaristic behavior, referencing historical crises where US intervention, despite good intentions, inadvertently empowered Pakistan's military strategists.

Jeff Smith from the Heritage Foundation further highlighted Pakistan's significance in India's security landscape.

Quoting former President Trump, he reminded members that the United States has mistakenly provided Pakistan with over $33 billion in aid over the past 15 years, receiving nothing but deception in return. He asserted that Pakistan has granted refuge to the very terrorists the United States seeks.

Smith contended that much of the terrorism has originated from Pakistan, arguing that both Washington and New Delhi must intensify efforts to persuade the Pakistani military to cease employing terrorist groups as instruments of their foreign policy.

Lawmakers noted that a recent incident in Kashmir — identified during testimony as executed by gunmen affiliated with a notorious Pakistani terrorist group — has intensified India's concerns.

Smith recounted that following the attack, India conducted strikes on terrorist training facilities, resulting in exchanges involving missiles, artillery, and drones. He reiterated Trump's stance that the US intervened diplomatically to facilitate a ceasefire.

Nonetheless, New Delhi maintains that Pakistan requested the ceasefire agreement, asserting that the decision was mutual and did not involve third-party intervention.

Experts indicated that the changing threat landscape necessitates integrating counterterrorism efforts with a broader Indo-Pacific strategy. Lalwani noted that India's expanding maritime capabilities, which include contributions to standing missions in the Indian Ocean, support wider deterrence objectives, adding that collaboration in anti-submarine warfare and related areas is also underway with the Quad.

Jaishankar underscored that India's strategy is increasingly regional, stating that India is now supplying military equipment to nations such as the Philippines, including anti-ship cruise missiles, as part of a broader initiative to counter coercive forces and enhance security partnerships.

Experts during the testimonies affirmed that counterterrorism remains a vital pillar of the US–India relationship. Huizenga asserted that sustaining momentum in intelligence sharing and operational collaboration is crucial at a time when adversaries are aggressively altering borders and challenging democratic alliances throughout South Asia.