India-UAE to sign security cooperation pact

The government today agreed to sign a pact on security cooperation with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for establishing an institutional framework to fight terrorism.      

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.      

"The agreement will establish an institutional framework for cooperation between India and UAE in their fight against terrorism in all its forms," Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters after the meeting.      

The agreement is likely to help in curbing activities of terrorists and organized criminal groups indulging in drug and human trafficking, besides dealing in weapons, ammunition, explosives, and radioactive and nuclear materials.    

Money laundering, circulation of counterfeit notes and cyber crime will also be addressed, he added.      

It will also provide for mutual technical assistance including exchange of professional expertise and training of security and law enforcement personnel and organising seminars and conferences, Chidambaram said.      

The government has earlier signed similar agreements and Memorandum Of Understandings (MoUs) with Cambodia, Cyprus and Vietnam.