India and Italy have taken significant steps to enhance their collaboration in combating terrorism and organised crime during the 5th Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting, held on January 16 and 17 in Rome.
The meeting was co-chaired by KD Dewal, Joint Secretary for Counter Terrorism in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and Alessandro Azzoni, Senior Deputy Director for Political Affairs and Director for Security in the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This gathering marked another important milestone in the ongoing efforts of the two countries to tackle these global threats together.
The discussions at the meeting centred on strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation in various international platforms, including the United Nations, the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Both nations reaffirmed their shared commitment to working together to combat terrorism and organised crime on the global stage. The two sides also emphasised the importance of ongoing negotiations on several bilateral agreements that aim to improve their joint efforts in addressing these issues.
A key focus of the dialogue was the growing threat posed by terrorism and organised crime, not only at the national level but also in regional and international contexts.
The two delegations exchanged views on how to address these challenges more effectively, highlighting the need for continuous collaboration. In particular, they discussed the misuse of technology by terrorist groups and the need for enhanced cooperation in countering this emerging threat.
Both sides acknowledged the significant role technology plays in modern-day terrorism and agreed to share best practices in preventing and mitigating its misuse.
An important aspect of the discussions also centred around the prosecution of individuals involved in terrorist activities. Both India and Italy emphasised the necessity of robust legal frameworks and effective law enforcement mechanisms to hold those responsible for terrorism accountable.
This is seen as a vital step in not only curbing terrorist activities but also ensuring justice is served, which in turn can help deter future acts of violence.
The meeting also included a visit to the Inter-agency Law Enforcement Academy in Caserta, Italy, where the Indian delegation met with Italian officials to discuss capacity-building initiatives.
The aim was to foster closer ties between the Academy and its Indian counterpart, focusing on training law enforcement personnel to effectively deal with the ever-evolving nature of terrorism and organised crime.
In addition to these discussions, both nations agreed to hold the next JWG meeting in New Delhi at a mutually convenient time, reinforcing their commitment to ongoing dialogue and cooperation.
This decision signals the determination of both India and Italy to further their collaboration in the fight against terrorism and organised crime, strengthening the global response to these issues.
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