Delhi:
Minister Krishna, members of the Indian government, friends and colleagues:
It is a pleasure to be back in India.
I have been looking forward to this visit-not only for the chance to spend time in India, a nation for which I have a great deal of personal affection-but also to continue the important work we are doing together in this Strategic Dialogue.
Before I go further, however, I want to express our sympathy and outrage over the terrorist attack in Mumbai last week. The United States condemns this attack in the strongest possible terms. We send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. And we pledge our support the Indian government however we can in protecting its cities and citizens from future harm. We are allies in the fight against violent extremist networks. And homeland security is a high priority and a source of increasing partnership.
That's why we signed the Counterterrorism Cooperative Initiative to increase our cooperation on the investigation of crimes, law enforcement, border management and cyber security. And in May, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano came to New Delhi to launch with you the first-ever U.S.-India Homeland Security Dialogue, to bring order and urgency to our shared efforts. The events in Mumbai have driven home how important it is that we get results.
And that's true across every aspect of our engagement. The United States joined India in this Strategic Dialogue because we believe-as President Obama has said-that the relationship between India and the United States will be a defining partnership in the 21st century. The stakes are high. So it is critical that this dialogue lead to concrete and coordinated steps that each of our governments take to produce real results that make a difference in our people's lives. Because that's ultimately what this is all about-joining forces to protect our citizens and help every man, woman, and child live up to their God-given potential.