India and Saudi Arabia today decided to ramp up their counter-terrorism cooperation as they asked all states to dismantle terror infrastructures "where they happen to exist" and reject the use of terrorism against other countries, seen as an oblique reference to Pakistan.
The assertion was made by the two countries after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's wide-ranging talks with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and delegation-level parleys between the two sides following which five agreements were signed.
The two countries also called on states to cut off any kind of support and financing to terrorists operating and perpetrating terrorism from their territories against other states and bring perpetrators of acts of terrorism to justice.
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The pacts signed included one on cooperation in the exchange of intelligence related to money laundering, terror financing and related crimes and another relating to recruitment of Indian workers in Saudi Arabia, home to around three million Indian workers.
In the talks, the Indian side indicated to Saudis that India is facing attacks from terror infrastructure in Pakistan as both sides decided to enhance their counter-terrorism cooperation.
The two sides deliberated on enhancing trade and investment ties, particularly in energy and infrastructure sectors.
Saudi Arabia is a close ally of Pakistan and its strong denouncement of terror is seen as very significant.
An official quoted Prime Minister Modi as saying that the outcome of the talks had turned a "new leaf" in bilateral ties.
A joint statement issued after the talks between Modi and King Salman, both at restricted format and delegation level, said the two leaders rejected totally any attempt to link terrorism to any particular race, religion or culture.
"They called on all states to reject the use of terrorism against other countries; dismantle terrorism infrastructures where they happen to exist and to cut off any kind of support and financing to the terrorists operating and perpetrating terrorism from their territories against other states; and bring perpetrators of acts of terrorism to justice," the statement said.
"The two leaders agreed to further strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism, both at the bilateral level and within the multilateral system of the UN. The two leaders called upon the international community to strengthen multilateral regimes to effectively address the challenges posed by terrorism," it said.
(REOPE DEL 33)
Noting that tomorrow's experts will come from investments made today in our people and infrastructure, Modi said his government is committed to supporting different streams of scientific knowledge; ranging from fundamental science to applied science with emphasis on innovations.
"We are leveraging strategic international partnerships and collaborations based on the principles of mutuality, parity and reciprocity, to make Indian Science globally competitive. We are also placing special emphasis on building strong relationships with our neighbouring countries and multilateral fora such as BRICS," he said.
Modi said the Technology Vision 2035 document released in last years Science Congress, is now developing into a detailed roadmap for twelve key technology sectors and even the NITI Aayog is evolving a holistic science and technology vision for the country.
The prime minister also emphasised on ease of doing science, and said Indias ability to execute large transformational national missions required effective partnerships, which can only be ensured by getting out of deep rooted silos and adopting a collaborative approach.
"Our ministries, our scientists, R&D institutions, industries, start-ups, universities and IITs, all should work together seamlessly. In particular, our infrastructure and socio-economic ministries must make appropriate use of science and technology. Another empowering factor for scientific delivery is the Ease of Doing Science. If we want science to deliver, we must not constrain it," Modi said.
Asserting that building a strong science and technology infrastructure accessible to academia, start-ups, industry and R&D labs tops is a priority of the government, Modi said it was important to address issues like the problems of ease of access, maintenance, redundancy and duplication of expensive equipment in scientific institutions.
Modi said establishing professionally managed large regional centers with high value scientific equipment in PPP mode should also be examined.
He said Indian institutions could consider inviting outstanding scientists from abroad including NRIs for long term research associations and should also involve foreign and NRI PhD students in post-doctoral research in our projects.
By 2030 India will be among the top three countries in science and technology and will be among the most attractive destinations for the best talent in the world. The wheels we set in motion today will achieve this goal, Modi said, adding that SCOPUS database indicates that India now ranks sixth in the world with respect to scientific publications, growing at a rate of about fourteen percent as against the world average growth rate of about four percent.
Science must meet the rising aspirations of our people, he said, asserting that problems of urban-rural divide and work for inclusive development, economic growth and employment generation must be addressed through it.
Seeking to make science and technology a strong tool of inclusive development and betterment of the weakest and poorest segments of our society, he said ministries, scientists, R&D institutions, industries, start-ups, universities and IITs, all should work together seamlessly.
"In particular, our infrastructure and socio-economic ministries must make appropriate use of science and technology," he said.
