1st India-Australia Joint Steering Committee kicked off; aims to escalate mutual cooperation in combating terrorism

New Delhi, October 7: First India-Australia Joint Steering Committee kicked off where to follow up discussion took place on the MoU over Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime. 

During the Joint Steering Committee meeting, the two sides discussed the scope for cooperation in counter-terrorism and checking extremism and radicalization besides steps to check illegal financial transactions and counterfeiting and cybercrimes. Issues related to human trafficking and people smuggling, combating illegal drug trafficking and sharing information between law enforcement agencies were also discussed. This MoU on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime was exchanged between India and Australia during the visit of Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to New Delhi in April and his talks with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two sides agreed to pursue further the agenda for cooperation in specific areas with meetings of operational Joint Working Groups involving concerned agencies.

 

TVSN Prasad, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Stephen Bouwhuis, First Assistant Secretary, International and Auscheck Division, Criminal Justice Group, Attorney-General's Department led the respective delegations.