New Delhi, Jul 28 (UNI) In remarks targeted at Pakistan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said that India and the US have been working together on countering terrorism, both bilaterally and multi-laterally, and both are “convinced” that the world will never accept cross-border terrorism.
In his media remarks after talks with visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken here, Jaishankar said that the two sides discussed developments in India’s extended neighbourhood, as well as stability in the Gulf region.
“India and the US are currently both members of the UN Security Council. Some of the agenda before the UNSC was also covered in the discussions, as also our approach to reform multilateralism.
"Countering terrorism has been the common endeavor for us in the UN framework, bilaterally and in other bodies. We are convinced that the world will never accept cross border terrorism,” Jaishankar said.
He said Blinken and he discussed issues related to the Indo-Pacific, which “presents a different set of challenges to stability, growth and prosperity.”
The talks on the Indo-Pacific come in the backdrop of China increasing its hegemony in the region, which has caused concern among many countries.
“Under the aegis of the Quad framework we are engaged in maritime security, HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief), counter terrorism, connectivity and infrastructure, cyber and digital concerns, Covid-19 response, climate action and response, developing resilient and reliable supply chains,” said the EAM.
The two sides discussed not only opportunities for further collaboration on all these issues “but also the importance of observing international law, rules and norms including the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)."
“Our ability to work more closely, bilaterally, in the Quad and elsewhere benefis the international community as a whole,” he said.
“Developments in India’s extended neighbourhood are also naturally of great consequence to us. Stability in the Gulf where our political, economic and community interests are so visible was a shared concern,” he said, adding that in Myanmar, India conveyed its commitment to the country’s democratic transition as well as support for ASEAN initiatives.
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