The two sides exchanged instruments of ratification for the bilateral treaty which was signed between New Delhi and Washington in June 1997. ``The exchange has brought the treaty into force from today,'' a USIS release here said.

The new treaty has replaced the 1931 extradition treaty between the US and the UK which was till date, also in force between India and the US.

``The treaty is an important step in India-US law enforcement cooperation including in the area of counter- terrorism.

``This exchange constitutes yet another milestone in the continuing cooperation between our two democracies to promote the continued growth of contacts and exchanges in different areas on the basis of mutual benefit and goodwill," the release said.