India, Tajikistan to jointly counter terrorism: Hamid Ansari

DUSHANBE:Stating that both India and Tajikistan face challenges posed by extremists, Vice President Hamid Ansari has expressed strong willingness to work with the central Asian nation to counter the global menace.

"Our two people live in a region which, regrettably, is confronting challenges posed by extremists. These threaten peace and stability. Given our innate understanding, we look forward to working with Tajikistan to counter these challenges," Ansari said.

Citing that fruits of development have been unevenly distributed within nations, he suggested security and peace, and global cooperation to avoid a catastrophe.

"It is evident that fruits of development have been unevenly distributed, within nations and amongst them. Poverty and underdevelopment is still pervasive. In more senses than one, humanity today is capable both of elevating itself to unprecedented heights of wellbeing and of destroying itself.

"To avoid a catastrophe, therefore, the need of our times is to focus on three interconnected objectives: security and peace; balanced development; regional and global cooperation. These objectives are understood and appreciated in our relationship," he said during a banquet hosted by Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon yesterday.

Ansari said the ties between our people have deep roots. "Should any of this be a matter of surprise after we have noted, and digested, the fact that the distance from Delhi to Dushanbe is 1,369 km while it is 1,394 km from Delhi to Mumbai on India's west coast and 2,244 km from Delhi to Thiruvananthapuram in our southern most state of Kerala," he said explaining closeness between the two brotherly nations.

Ansari arrived here on Sunday on a four-day visit for reinforcing and reinvigorating friendship between India and Tajikistan.