India and Arab Foreign Ministers agree to strengthen joint efforts to counter terrorism

The Indian and Arab Foreign Ministers on Saturday reviewed their mutual support in combating terrorism in all its forms, expressed appreciation for the initiatives undertaken by a number of Arab States in the areas of counter terrorism and transnational crime, and reaffirmed the principle of zero tolerance toward terrorism, which continues to constitute one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.

The two sides agreed to strengthen their joint efforts to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

At the second India-Arab Foreign Ministers meeting held here on Saturday the two sides in an indirect criticism of Pakistan also condemned cross-border terrorism and called on all States to refrain from using terrorism against other States, urging all States to work collectively to combat terrorism, dismantle terrorist infrastructures and terror financing networks wherever they exist, and bring the perpetrators of terrorist acts to justice without delay.


They expressed deep concern over the misuse by terrorist groups of new and advanced technologies for propaganda and disinformation, recruitment, fundraising and the transfer of funds, as well as for the planning and execution of terrorist activities. The two sides further noted, with growing concern, the increasing use of unmanned aerial systems (drones) in trafficking of drugs, money, weapons, and explosives, as well as in the conduct of sophisticated attacks, posing a significant challenge to counter terrorism efforts in the region.

In this context, the Foreign Ministers of the Arab States strongly condemned the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam targeting innocent Indian tourists, and reaffirmed their full and steadfast support for the Republic of India and Arab States in confronting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. They also noted Iraq’s prominent and pivotal role in combating terrorism perpetrated by "Da'esh", as well as by individuals, groups, institutions, and entities associated with it, in Iraq and the region.

Both sides also noted the efforts undertaken by the Syrian Government in the fields of counter-terrorism, including its joining the International Coalition against Daesh, as well as the measures taken to combat the production and trafficking of narcotics, and its zero tolerance approach towards cross-border terrorism, thereby contributing to regional security and stability, according to the Delhi Declaration issued after their meeting.

The two sides welcomed the unanimous adoption by the Security Council of the “Algeria Guiding Principles on Preventing the Financing of Terrorism through Emerging Technologies,” at the initiative of Algeria and pursuant to the Council’s 2022 Delhi Declaration on countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. The two sides committed to strengthen cooperation to take decisive and concerted actions against globally proscribed terrorists, terror entities and their proxies, sponsors, backers and financiers, including those in UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee.