Subhashis Mittra

Global counter-terrorism challenges and the ongoing counter-terrorism cooperation between India and Australia were high on the agenda at their joint working group (JWG) meeting on counter-terrorism in New Delhi in August.

During the meeting, the two countries strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and stressed the need for strengthening international cooperation to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner.

The external affairs ministry said that the two sides condemned the use of terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism. Both sides took the opportunity to exchange views on domestic, regional and global terrorism threat assessments.

The ongoing cooperation in counter-terrorism is an important element of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said.

The discussions hinged on counter-terrorism challenges related to the use of new and emerging technologies by terrorists, misuse of the internet for terrorist purposes, radicalisation and terror financing, and the nexus between organized crime and terrorism, among other issues.

The delegations were led by joint secretary, Counter Terrorism, ministry of external affairs, K.D. Dewal and ambassador for counter terrorism, department of foreign