India, Russia agree to combat terrorism together

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday met Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Nikolai Patrushev in Moscow city and agreed to increase cooperation in the field of security to combat terrorism, extremism and radicalism.

The Ministers underlined that cooperation in the field of security is an important aspect of this bilateral relationship.

They also agreed that terrorism must be fought unitedly and there were no good or bad terrorists.

The ministers further agreed to cooperate in combating new challenges, enhance exchange of information, building a data base, and in training of police and investigative agencies. Both sides agreed to hold the next Joint Working Group to counter terrorism between India and Russia in 2018.

An updated and more comprehensive agreement on Cooperation on Security between Ministry of Home Affairs of India and the Ministry of Interior of the Russian Federation was signed by the two Ministers.

This agreement provides a comprehensive approach for cooperation in security related issues, including Information Technology Crimes, Counterfeiting currency, Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Trafficking in Human Beings, Economic Crimes, Crimes related to Intellectual Property, Cultural Property amongst others.

A Joint Action Plan between the Narcotics Control Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs of India and the Ministry of Interior of the Russian Federation for the period 2018-20 was also signed by Shri Pankaj Saran, Ambassador of India to the Russian Federation and Mr. Igor Zubov, State Secretary and Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Interior of the Russian Federation on this occasion.

During his visit, Rajnath Singh will also hold meetings with Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary, Security Council of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Puchkov, Minister of Civil Defence, Emergency Situations and Disaster Relief of the Russian Federation and Alexander Bortnikov, Director, Federal Security Service of Russia.

He will also pay a visit to the National Crisis Management Centre (EMERCOM) under Russia's Ministry of Situations.

This year India and Russia are celebrating the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations.