Cairo [Egypt], May 1 (ANI): India and Egypt convened the 4th Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism in Cairo on Wednesday, where both nations committed to intensifying their joint efforts in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Egypt reaffirmed its unwavering support for India in its fight against all forms of violence. According to a press release from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both countries strongly condemned the recent “heinous terrorist attack” in Pahalgam, which targeted both domestic and international tourists.
The MEA statement read, “India and Egypt strongly condemned the recent heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which targeted tourists from India and abroad. Egypt reaffirmed its full support for India in confronting all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining the country’s security and stability.”
Both nations agreed to bolster their efforts in combating terrorism and exchanged views on the evolving terror threats in their respective regions. The delegations were led by Ambassador KD Dewal, Joint Secretary (Counter-Terrorism) from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Ambassador Walid Al-Fiqi, Director of the Department of Counter-Terrorism at Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Representatives from various agencies of both countries also participated in the discussions.
The two sides discussed strategies to enhance cooperation in addressing new and emerging challenges, such as the exploitation of technology by terrorists. Key concerns included the use of cryptocurrencies, unmanned aerial systems, and the misuse of cyberspace for spreading terrorist propaganda.
In addition, India and Egypt agreed to deepen their bilateral cooperation on issues such as anti-money laundering, drug trafficking, and organized crime. The countries committed to strengthening capacity-building initiatives, particularly in cyber security and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for counter-terrorism. They also agreed to share best practices and enhance information exchange.
The discussions extended to strengthening multilateral cooperation in combating terrorism through forums such as the United Nations, BRICS, the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF), and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Both nations emphasized the importance of enhancing the effectiveness of the GCTF and reiterated their commitment to the early finalization and adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).
The next meeting of the Joint Working Group will take place in India at a mutually agreed-upon date.
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