CAIRO: Pitching for a comprehensive fight to deal with radicalisation and non-state actors supporting terror, India today said it was ramping up security ties with Egypt to remove the scourge of terrorism completely.
In an address to a select group of strategic thinkers and policy makers, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj talked about the threat of dreaded terror outfit ISIS in the Gulf region and that of Taliban and LeT in India’s neighbourhood.
“We are today witnessing growing violence and intolerance. The growth of extremism as represented by Al Qaeda and now ISIS in your region and that of Taliban, Laskhar-e-Toiba and others in our neighbourhood, are manifestations of this trend,” she said.
“We have to fight radicalisation and extremism, the threat of terrorism and the emergence of non-state actors who challenge the civilised world in a collective and comprehensive manner. India not only condemns all acts of terrorism but joins hands with Egypt in the fight to remove the scourge of terrorism completely,” she said at the prestigious Diplomatic Club here.
Swaraj, who held extensive talks with Egyptian leadership yesterday, proposed to step up exchange of information and coordination to combat terrorism, both at the regional as well as global level while elaborating on importance of closer security cooperation between India and Egypt.
“Our defence relationship, which is based on our traditional and friendly ties will be upgraded further to closer cooperation across the spectrum.
“At the multilateral level, we shall strengthen coordination with the League of Arab States, work closely through the India-Africa Forum Summit and further our outstanding cooperation at the UN and other multilateral bodies,” she said before winding up her first visit to Egypt.
Swaraj said India remained concerned about the growth of terrorism and of sectarian violence in the region and stand committed to support efforts to fight this.
“We also sense a need to develop a broader approach based on dialogue to shift from an atmosphere of mistrust and violence towards one which exudes confidence in peace and development.”
Swaraj identified three pillars for deeper bilateral ties
– closer political interactions and security cooperation, deeper economic engagement and scientific collaboration and wider cultural contacts and people-to-people exchanges.
“We celebrate our extraordinary diversity of languages, ethnicities and religions. This has nurtured tolerance in an integrated India,” she said.
Earlier, she began her speech by greeting the audience in Arbic.
“Sabah al Kheir! (good morning)…I bring with me the warm wishes and affections of 1.2 billion Indians, who consider Egyptians as their brothers,” she said drawing a warm applause.
Talking about the regional issues, she said the Iranian nuclear agreement can open up new vistas of cooperation and reduce frictions.
“India is a long-time friend of all the countries in the region and we have no major differences with any. We remain convinced that a new paradigm of peace, prosperity and stability will emerge.”
The External Affairs Minister said India has strong interests in the Arab world and has been strongly committed to its various causes.
“We have been supportive of your aspirations regarding the resolution of the Palestine-Israel issue. Our strong traditional support to the Palestinian cause remains unwavering even as we pursue good relations with Israel. We commend the Egyptian role in bringing about a ceasefire in last year’s Israel-Gaza conflict.”
Swaraj also listed various initiatives of Modi government and said, “We were elected on a mandate of maximum governance and minimum government. For our government the development of our people is paramount.”
“By opening up our economy and unleashing the entrepreneurial spirit of our citizens, India has emerged to become one of the fastest growing economies and third largest economy, in PPP terms, in the world today.”
She said the Indian government was in the process of changing the “entire ecosystem of public services through the use of IT”.
On India’s ties with Egypt, she said both the countries were poised for great success.
“We all are aware of the geo-strategic location of Egypt, of your large and intelligent population, of your strong armed forces, of your vibrant economy, of your cultural influence in the region and your own civilisational strength.”
Swaraj also talked about bonds of friendship between Tagore and poet Ahmed Shawki.
“Tagore recognised the greatness of your civilisation which he said ‘grew around a noble river, which spread the festivities of life on its banks across the heart of the land. There man never raised the barrier of alienation between himself and rest of the world'”.
“We recall the meeting of minds between Mahatma Gandhi and (Egyptian nationalist leader) Saad Zaghlul, who were committed to the course of freedom of their people. When Gandhi crossed the Suez Canal in 1931, he was charmed by the nationalistic developments and there are vivid references from the Al Ahram editorials of those days.
“The bond between (Jawaharlal) Nehru and Nasser (former Egyptian president) is legendary,” she said.
She said, “Our relations with Egypt also have a bearing on our relations with the rest of the region. Your region is no longer our extended neighbourhood, it is now our neighbourhood. We are now more actively engaged in your region which lies to the west of my country.
“You are central to my security interest as well as my requirements for energy.
“Millions of my citizens work in this region and contribute to its economy. Our political exchanges are frequent and we are strong partners in the emerging structures both political-security as well as economic,” she said.
“But most importantly, we share historic ties of exchanges between people and ideas, of trade and commerce, of language and literature and are bound together in bonds that make us brothers,” she added. (AGENCIES)
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