European Union has urged India to join its initiative on sharing of intelligence to counter terrorism and offered to deepen ties to tackle piracy in high-seas. The issue figured in discussions EU High Representative for foreign affairs and security policy Catherine Ashton had with top Indian officials and ministers during her stay in New Delhi. <br/><br/>Official sources said that during her discussions she conveyed her perceptions on the situation in the sub-continent, particularly in Afghanistan from where the international forces are expected to be withdrawn from next year. <br/><br/>On concerns about India's role in Afghanistan, Ashton made it clear that it was for New Delhi to decide on its contribution for the development of the war-torn nation. Talking to reporters in New Delhi Ashton also had meetings with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Overseas Indians Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. <br/><br/>AIR Correspondent reports that Ashton's visit first as EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, is mainly seen as a run-up to the EU-India Summit meeting in Brussels in October. The bilateral trade between the 27-nation bloc and India is estimated to be over 50 billion dollars. The two sides agreed to double bilateral trade in another five years at the India-EU summit in Marseilles, France, in September 2008.