US welcomes India's plan to launch SAARC satellite

WASHINGTON: The US has welcomed India's plan to launch a satellite for the South Asian countries in order to expand information sharing and connectivity within the region.

The announcement in this regard was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the last SAARC Summit in Nepal.

The US applauded India's proposal to launch a satellite for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in order to expand information sharing and connectivity within the SAARC region, said a joint statement issued after the conclusion of the India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue.

In this spirit, the two countries renewed the US-India Technology Safeguards Agreement to facilitate the launch of US satellite components on Indian space launch vehicles.

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Maldives and Sri Lanka are others members of SAARC.

On cyber issues, the US and India supported an open, inclusive, transparent, and multi-stakeholder system of internet governance and planned to work together to promote cyber security, combat cybercrime, and advance norms of responsible state behavior in cyberspace.

India and the US agreed to improve cooperation among technical, law enforcement, cyber R&D, and capacity building.

Commending the resumption of the US-India Cyber Dialogue, the two countries welcomed the decision to convene a Track 1.5 program to further cooperation on internet and cyber issues and contribute to the goals of Digital India initiative.