India and Australia have strongly denounced all forms of terrorism and stressed the importance of enhancing international cooperation to address this issue comprehensively and persistently, according to a release from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The two nations also condemned the use of terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism, as noted in the MEA statement. This topic was a key focus at the 14th meeting of the India-Australia Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, held in Delhi on August 12.
The meeting was led by KD Dewal, Joint Secretary for Counter-Terrorism at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Richard Feakes, Australia’s Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The discussions centered on global counter-terrorism challenges and the ongoing collaborative efforts between the two countries.
Participants exchanged perspectives on terrorism threats at domestic, regional, and global levels. Key issues discussed included the use of new technologies by terrorists, the misuse of the internet for terrorist activities, radicalization, terror financing, and the connections between organized crime and terrorism.
The meeting also covered cooperative efforts in various regional, global, and multilateral forums such as the UN, GCTF, FATF, ARF, IORA, and with QUAD partners, aiming to combat global terrorism effectively.
This ongoing counter-terrorism cooperation is a crucial component of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, as highlighted by the MEA. The two countries agreed to schedule the 15th Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism in Canberra at a mutually convenient time.
Additionally, the sixth India-Maritime Security Dialogue was held in Canberra earlier that day, where both sides discussed strategies to maintain a secure maritime environment that supports inclusive growth and global well-being, according to the MEA release.
