India, Israel reiterate commitment to combating terrorism

Jerusalem, July 5 (IANS) Following bilateral discussions headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu here, India and Israel on Wednesday reiterated their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

"Recognising that terrorism poses a grave threat to global peace and stability, the two Prime Ministers reiterated their strong commitment to combat it in all its forms and manifestations," a joint statement issued following the talks said.

"They stressed that there can be no justification for acts of terror on any grounds whatsoever. The leaders asserted that strong measures should be taken against terrorists, terror organisations, their networks and all those who encourage, support and finance terrorism, or provide sanctuary to terrorists and terror groups," it stated.

According to the statement, both Modi and Netanyahu underscored the need to ensure that terrorist organisations did not get access to any weapons of mass destruction or technologies.

Both leaders also committed to cooperate for the early adoption by the UN Security Council of the India-initiated Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).

Both sides committed to promote security and stability in cyberspace on both the governmental and private levels.

"The Prime Ministers emphasised the importance of enhanced dialogue between their national cyber authorities and expressed their commitment to expand and accelerate their cooperation in this sphere including laying a mutual road map for its implementation," the statement said.

"Both sides also recognise the value of enhancing and further institutionalising their broad-based cooperation on cyber issues through a framework for cooperation in the area of cyber security."

Both Modi and Netanyahu reaffirmed their commitments as envisaged in the agreement on cooperation on homeland and public security and encouraged the various working groups to implement the agreement in an efficient and effective manner, the statement said.