India, Germany to discuss counter-terror cooperation Friday

New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) With the world increasingly realising the global nature of terrorism that targeted Mumbai last month, German Minister of Interior Wolfgang Schäuble comes here Friday on a day-long visit to deepen counter-terror cooperation between India and Germany, which lost three of its nationals in these attacks.

Schäuble will hold talks with Home Minister P. Chidambaram and National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan on a host of issues relating to counter-terrorism practices and methods in the two countries, reliable sources said.

Three Germans were killed and several others were injured in the Nov 26 Mumbai terror attacks that killed more than 170 people, including 26 foreigners.

Chidamabaram is likely to convey regrets and condolences at the death of the three Germans.

The German minister will call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and reiterate his country's solidarity with India in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks.

Making a statement in parliament on the Mumbai attacks, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Thursday expressed regrets at the death of 26 foreigners and underlined that the terrorism that struck Mumbai was global in nature and transcended national boundaries.

With foreigners killed and increasing evidence pointing to an Al Qaeda imprint on the Mumbai attacks, the world has solidly rallied behind India and offered cooperation in sprucing counter-terror infrastructure in the country.

The US is sending Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and influential Democratic Senator John Kerry here later this week to put pressure on Pakistan to launch a comprehensive crackdown on terror outfits in that country.

Negroponte comes here Friday, followed by Kerry a couple of days later.