NEW DELHI, Oct. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- India and the United States of America have signed an agreement to help each other investigate offenses related to terrorism, narcotics, trafficking, economic and other organized crimes, according to the Indian Home Affairs Ministry Tuesday.

    The protocol of exchange of the Instrument of Ratification concerning Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty was signed here by Indian Home Secretary V K Duggal and US Ambassador to India David C Mulford on Monday.

    The treaty concerning criminal matters is designed to enhance the ability of the two countries to pursue their common objective of law enforcement and putting in place a legal mechanism to enable them to provide to each other assistance in connection with investigation, prosecution, prevention and suppression of crime, including those relating to terrorism, narcotics, trafficking and economic and organized crime.

    India is the 16th country with which the United States has signed the treaty. The treaty has already been ratified by Indian President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. Enditem