India ready to reinforce joint counterterrorism cooperation with Bahrain: Rajanth

Continuing India's fight against terrorism in the global area, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh who is on a visit to Bahrain, said that terrorism is a threat to the whole world and asserted that India is ready to reinforce joint counterterrorism cooperation with Bahrain.

Bahrain Interior Minister, Lt-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa received Rajnath on Monday after which sides held a productive session,

Al Khalifa invited Rajnath to visit temples and community centres that reflect the diversity of Bahraini society and said that Bahrainis and Indians have lived together for generations and encouraged additional development in the ties between the two governments.

Al Khalifa further hailed the first meeting of the Bahraini-Indian Joint Steering Committee as part of the agreement signed between the two sides on counterterrorism to reinforce security cooperation, especially regional terrorism issues.

He highlighted that Bahrain has experienced terrorist acts that caused loss of life and horrific injuries and damage to infrastructure.

"We look forward to working together in the fight against terrorism and in strengthening our mutual and regional security. He said the Joint Steering Committee should look at how we can work together to address challenges and to follow up the progress of the agreed decision through exchange of visits and expertise and working to achieve common goals," Al Khalifa said.

Rajanth expressed thanks and appreciation to Al Khalifa, hailing the historical ties between the two friendly countries that are based on love and peace.

He highlighted during the meeting that Bahrain is a civilised and open society that promotes unity and co-existence, adding that mutual visits will develop bilateral ties.

He also stated that terrorism is a threat to the whole world and that India is ready to reinforce joint counterterrorism cooperation with Bahrain.

The two sides agreed on their strong stances against all forms of terrorism, saying terrorism is a hazard to all countries and communities and firmly rejected the linking of terrorism to any race, religion or culture.

They agreed that a terrorist in one country cannot be glorified as freedom fighters by another, and the two sides called upon all states to reject the use of terrorism against other countries, to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the state, and to fight terrorist infrastructure whenever it exists.

The two sides also agreed to actively implement the counterterrorism agreement for which a joint committee was formed that held its first meeting in the sideline of the visit. They decided to hold regular committee meetings, in accordance to the clauses of the agreement.

The two sides agreed to reinforce cooperation in exchange of information on ongoing terrorism-related investigations, exchange of information of ongoing organised crime investigations, including terrorism and drug trafficking, determine and exchange information on terrorism financing and organised crime sources and confiscation of terrorism money in accordance to the laws of both countries, study youth extremism and the use of the internet and how to tackle the issue, further cooperation in e-security and fight money laundering.

They also agreed to promote participation in training courses and seminars that are held by the two countries for security officials to exchange expertise on crime fighting and other unconventional threats. They welcomed cooperation in anti-human trafficking and the fight against emerging security threats of the two countries. The two sides agreed to continue high level communication to reinforce security cooperation.