India Pitches for Counter-Terrorism Cooperation with African Nations

New Delhi: India strongly advocated stepped up cooperation through intelligence exchange and training with 54 African countries today citing the fast growing linkages of terrorist groups across the globe at the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi.

"In view of the fast growing linkages of such terrorist groups across the globe, we must step up our cooperation through intelligence exchange, training and other measures to counter this menace, said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Sushma Swaraj also put forward the case for India's permanent seat in the UN Security Council, saying the country along with Africa comprising nearly 2.5 billion people "can no longer be excluded from their rightful place" in the world body.

Ms Swaraj said "all our nations find themselves faced with the growing scourge of terrorism", adding that the menace of non-state actors and cross-border terrorism has acquired a new dimension and the scale of this challenge is huge and undermines the peace and stability in the countries.

"We also hope that the international community will cooperate with urgency to adopt the Comprehensive Convention against International Terrorism," she said. The minister's remarks came in the backdrop of increasing concerns in the international community on the rising threat posed by the terrorist organisations such as the Islamic State and Boko Haram.

Ms Swaraj also talked about various key areas like energy, trade and security where the two sides can collaborate and boost cooperation apart from working together on multilateral fora.

"Although Indians and Africans comprise nearly 2.5 billion people, our nations continue to be excluded from appropriate representation in the institutions of global governance. India and Africa can no longer be excluded from their rightful place of the permanent membership of the UN Security Council," she said.

Ms Swaraj questioned the "legitimacy of a governance structure that excludes the entire African continent and a country which represents one-sixth of humanity?" said.

Underlining that democratic reforms are essential in global institutions, Ms Swaraj said the 70th session of the UN General Assembly is an opportune moment to achieve concrete results to resolve these long-pending issues.

"Unless we put in place more democratic global governance structures, the more equitable and just international security and development frameworks that are essential for the collective peace and prosperity of this planet, will continue to elude us.There can no longer be pockets of prosperity in vast areas of under development and insecurity," she said.