India opts not to join global terror database
The Indian government has decided not to join a U.S. maintained
global terror database in the face of objections from the intelligence
agencies. The proposal has been stuck since it was initially proposed by the
U.S. in 2012.
Background:
Unhindered access to the Americans to the database of terror
suspects in India, which includes their biometric details, was opposed by both
the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
About the database:
The Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-6) is a model
text agreement for exchange of terrorist screening information between
Terrorist Screening Centre (TCS) of the U.S. and any Indian security agency. If
India signs it, it could get access to the U.S. database of 11,000 terror
suspects. The database includes name of the terror suspect, nationality, date
of birth, photos, finger prints (if any), and passport number.
Why is India not interested in this pact?
Indian security agencies are apprehensive of giving unhindered
access to the U.S. on sensitive data related to terrorists.
