In a significant move, India and the UAE on Monday agreed to cooperate in cracking down on terrorism and radicalisation, including the use of religion to justify, support and sponsor terrorism against other countries.
In a joint statement, issued after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan here, India and the UAE also agreed to promote investment, including through the establishment of a UAE-India Infrastructure Investment Fund of $75 billion for supporting projects in India in the sector of railways, ports, roads, airports and industrial corridors and parks.
The statement said the visit of an Indian prime minister to UAE after 34 years marks the beginning of a new and comprehensive strategic partnership.
The two nations rejected extremism and any link between religion and terrorism.
Both sides condemned efforts, including by states, to use religion to justify, support and sponsor terrorism against other countries. They denounced and opposed terrorism in all forms and manifestations.
India and the UAE call on all states to dismantle terrorism infrastructure where they exist and bring perpetrators of terrorism to justice, according to brief points of the joint statement tweeted by external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup under the hashtag #TogetheronTerror.
India and the UAE will enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism operations, intelligence sharing and capacity-building.
India and the UAE agreed to work together for the adoption of India's proposal on Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the United Nations.
Both sides agreed to work together to control, regulate and share information on flow of funds that affect radicalization.
Both will strengthen cooperation in law enforcement, anti-money laundering, drug trafficking, extradition arrangements.
Both will promote cooperation in cyber security, including prevention of use of cyber for terrorism, radicalisation and disturbing social harmony.
Both are to establish a dialogue between their National Security Advisers and their National Security Councils. The NSAs are to meet every six months.
The joint statement marks a tectonic shift of the UAE away from Pakistan, said sources.
The agreement on terrorism would also help plug all loopholes used by terrorists like Dawood Ibrahim to use the UAE to secretly plant their funds to further terrorism in India.
India and the UAE are to cooperate to strengthen maritime security in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean Region.
India and the UAE are to strengthen defence relations, including through regular exercises and cooperation in defence manufacturing.
India welcomed the UAE's decision to participate in the International Fleet Review in India in 2016.
India and the UAE are to establish a strategic security dialogue between the two governments, which calls on all nations to fully respect and sincerely implement their commitment to resolve disputes bilaterally and peacefully without resorting to violence and terrorism.
On trade and investment, India and the UAE have agreed to set up a revised target of increasing trade by 60 percent in the next five years.
In strategic energy sector, both agreed to promote strategic partnership in the energy sector, including through the UAE's participation in India in the development of strategic petroleum reserves, upstream and downstream petroleum sectors, and collaboration in third countries.
Both countries agreed to promote cooperation in space, including in joint development and launch of satellites.
In nuclear energy, India and the UAE are to will cooperate in peaceful uses of nuclear energy including in areas like safety, health, agriculture and science and technology.
On UNSC reforms, both sides sought early reforms of the UN in its 70th anniversary year. Modi thanked the UAE for support for India's permanent membership.
The prime minister thanked the UAE for its strong support to the International Day of Yoga on June 21.
Modi also thanked the crown prince for his decision to allot land for construction of a temple in Abu Dhabi.
