India, Russia stress on elimination of 'safe havens' for terrorists

India and Russia on Wednesday during the 11th meeting of the India-Russia Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism stressed on the need for eliminating of all 'safe havens' of terrorists once and for all. According to reports, the Indian delegation committee was led by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Vijay Thakur Singh, Secretary (East), while the Russian delegation was led by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, Oleg V. Syromolotov. 

According to the MEA statement, "Both sides condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and emphasised the need for strengthening international cooperation to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner without any double standards." Further, they also exchanged views on threats that are posed by the terrorist organisations in their respective regions as well as on the ongoing concerns over terrorism in the South Asia region. The statement also read that "the countries underlined the urgent need for meaningful, credible, irreversible, verifiable and sustainable action against terrorists and terrorist groups"

Highlighting their efforts

According to reports, during the meeting, India and Russia highlighted their respective efforts on some of the world's most pressing counter-terrorism challenges including countering radicalisation and extremism, misuse of internet for terrorist purposes, movement of foreign fighters and combating the financing of terrorism including drug trafficking. 

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"The two sides also deliberated upon measures to further strengthen and deepen counter-terrorism cooperation through intensifying exchange of information, regular meetings at experts level, sharing of best practices and capacity building efforts in all areas of mutual interest in accordance with the special and privileged strategic partnership that exists between the two countries," the statement read.

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Agreeing on eradicating terrorism, both the countries stated that the fight against terrorism should be financed at multilateral forums including the UN, BRICS, FATF and SCO. Further, according to the MEA statement, the next meeting will be held in Russia. 

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(WITH ANI INPUTS)