Interior Minister, Indian Home Affairs Minister hold talks

Manama, Oct. 24 (BNA): Interior Minister, Lieutenant-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa received here today India's Union Minister of Home Affairs, Shri Rajnath Singh, who is currently on an official visit to Bahrain. The two sides held a session of talks, in which the Interior Minister welcomed the Indian Minister and his delegation with an opening speech. He stated that Bahrain has, throughout history, been a link between the east and the west. He also discussed Bahrain's special relationship with India due to the large Indian community in the Kingdom. He added that Bahrain is a tolerant, peaceful and open country. He also invited the Indian Minister to visit temples and community centres that reflect the diversity of Bahraini society. He said Bahrainis and Indians have lived together for generations and encouraged additional development in the ties between the two governments. The minister hailed the first meeting of the Bahraini-Indian Joint Steering Committee as part of the agreement signed between the two sides on counterterrorism to reinforce security cooperation, especially regional terrorism issues. He highlighted that Bahrain has experienced terrorist acts that caused loss of life and horrific injuries and damage to infrastructure. "We look forward to working together in the fight against terrorism and in strengthening our mutual and regional security," he said, adding that the Joint Steering Committee should look at how we can work together to address challenges and to follow up the progress of the agreed decision through exchange of visits and expertise and working to achieve common goals." The Indian Home Affairs Minister expressed thanks and appreciation to the Interior Minister, hailing the historical ties between the two friendly countries that are based on love and peace. He highlighted during the meeting that Bahrain is a civilised and open society that promotes unity and co-existence. He said mutual visits will develop bilateral ties. He also stated that terrorism is a threat to the whole world and that his country is ready to reinforce joint counterterrorism cooperation with Bahrain. The two sides agreed that the historical visit of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to India in February 2014 built a basic foundation towards a strong partnership between the two countries, as well as the creation of opportunities to develop bilateral relations in various sectors. The two sides said that the exchange of high level visits has contributed to the implementation of important agreements between the two countries. They discussed the visit of Interior Minister to India in December 2015 that included the signing of the cooperation agreement on international counterterrorism and trafficking of narcotics, psychotropic substances and chemical precursors. They agreed on their strong stances against all forms of terrorism, saying terrorism is a hazard to all countries and communities. They rejected the linking of terrorism to any race, religion or culture. They agreed that a terrorist in one country cannot be glorified as freedom fighters by another, and the two sides called upon all states to reject the use of terrorism against other countries, to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the state, and to fight terrorist infrastructure whenever it exists. The two sides also agreed to actively implement the counterterrorism agreement for which a joint committee was formed that held its first meeting in the sideline of the visit. They decided to hold regular committee meetings, in accordance to the clauses of the agreement. The two sides agreed to reinforce cooperation in exchange of information on ongoing terrorism-related investigations, exchange of information of ongoing organised crime investigations, including terrorism and drug trafficking, determine and exchange information on terrorism financing and organised crime sources and confiscation of terrorism money in accordance to the laws of both countries, study youth extremism and the use of the internet and how to tackle the issue, further cooperation in e-security and fight money laundering. They also agreed to promote participation in training courses and seminars that are held by the two countries for security officials to exchange expertise on crime fighting and other unconventional threats. They welcomed cooperation in anti-human trafficking and the fight against emerging security threats of the two countries. The two sides agreed to continue high level communication to reinforce security cooperation. (Source: Police Media Centre)