India, Italy resolves to fight terrorism in all forms

India and Italy in a joint statement on Monday resolved to fight terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni condemned, in the strongest possible terms, recent terror attacks in India, in Europe and elsewhere and emphasised the need for strengthening international partnership and concerted action by the international community in addressing the menace of terrorism.

The leaders expressed satisfaction on the first India-Italy Joint Working Group on Combating International Terrorism held in Rome on 10 November, 2016 and agreed to further strengthen the consultation mechanism through regular exchange of assessments and information, training and capacity building programme etc., in the sphere of counter terrorism.

 

They agreed to further strengthen cooperation to take decisive and concerted actions against Al Qaeda, ISIS and their affiliates and all other UN designated, globally proscribed terrorists and terror entities, including those mentioned in Para 8 of the Oct 6, 2017 India-EU Joint Statement on Cooperation in Combating Terrorism.

Both emphasised the need for effective implementation of existing international commitments on countering terrorism, including UN Global Countering Terrorism Strategy, UNSC resolutions and targeted sanctions relating to terrorism. In this context, the leaders also called upon all UN member countries to designate terrorist entities in line with the relevant UNSC Resolutions.

The two leaders also called for an early conclusion of negotiations and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN, as an instrument that would reinforce the message that no cause or grievance justifies terrorism.

They also called upon all countries to work towards rooting out terrorist safe havens and their infrastructure and networks and halting cross-border movement of terrorists.

Emphasising that the liberal and pluralistic values of both countries are rooted in our secular democracy, the leaders affirmed that terrorism should not be associated with any particular religion, nationality, civilisation, creed or ethnic group.

They also expressed concerns at the growing misuse of internet towards radicalisation of youth and agreed to strengthen cooperation in combating radicalisation and violent extremism.

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to an open, free, secure, stable, peaceful and accessible cyberspace, enabling economic growth and innovation. In particular, they reaffirmed that international law is applicable in cyberspace and that there was a need to continue and deepen deliberations on the applicability of international law to cyberspace and set norms of responsible behaviour of States.

They also agreed to explore the establishment of a bilateral dialogue on cyber issues. The leaders welcomed the holding of the 5th Global Conference on Cyberspace in New Delhi on 23-24 November.