The first round of Strategic and Commercial Dialogue between India and the United States concluded yesterday with a joint declaration issued by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and the US Secretary of State John Kerry. <br/><br/>The declaration was important on many counts but it acquired special significance because America made a categorical reference to Pakistan asking it to bring to justice the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attack.<br/><br/>It also specifically named terror groups such as Al-Qa'ida and its affiliates, Lashkar-e-Tayba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, D Company, and the Haqqani Network, and other regional groups that seek to undermine peace and stability in South Asia. <br/><br/>The declaration signified a deepening commitment of the two countries to fight the threat of terrorism in the region as well as globally.<br/><br/>In a significant boost to India's claim for permanent membership of the UN Security council, US reaffirmed its support for a reformed UN Security Council with India as a permanent member. <br/><br/>The two countries also set in motion a number of processes and activities to enhance the trade and investment ties between the two country. India and US agreed to raise the level of trade between the two countries from the current level of close to 100 billion dollars by 5 times in the coming few years. <br/><br/>External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj reaffirmed that both the countries were committed to improve the ease of doing business in their countries.