The member states of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) have underlined the need for cooperation to counter “radicalisation and violent extremism” conducive to terrorism, and specifically the financing of terrorism.
They emphasised the promotion of internationally agreed standards on countering the financing of terrorism and anti-money laundering, consistent with domestic laws and applicable international law.
The countries also called for preventing the misuse of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes and tackling terrorist recruitment.
The issues were discussed at the first BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ meeting held in New Delhi this week to deliberate on regional cooperation in security and disaster management sectors, said the BIMSTEC headquarters on Thursday.
The meeting was preceded by a meeting of home secretaries/senior officials of the home ministries of the BIMSTEC member states on October 12.
The countries acknowledged the complex and evolving security challenges, and agreed to respond appropriately, in the spirit of cooperation and shared responsibility.
The meeting appreciated India’s initiative to host the inaugural meeting of the BIMSTEC home ministers, which marked a milestone in the development of institutional architecture for forging security cooperation under BIMSTEC.
It recognised that the Bay of Bengal region is a common security space with shared security challenges, which have transnational and regional dimensions, such as terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, drug-trafficking, organised crime, cybercrimes, money laundering and financing of terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, human-trafficking, smuggling of arms, piracy, poaching, illegal human migration and misuse of cyberspace for terrorist activities.
Official Spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal on Wednesday said, “Several areas have been identified, and it is our expectation that with this inaugural dialogue, there will be a stronger security cooperation among all members.”
The meeting reflected and reaffirmed the resolve and commitment of the BIMSTEC member states to deepen and enhance regional security and disaster management cooperation to realise the goals of a connected, secure, resilient, developed and prosperous BIMSTEC region, said the BIMSTEC headquarters.