Ahead of SCO, Uzbekistan joins India in condemning cross-border terrorism

As the 2 countries elevated their relationship, Uzbekistan joined India in unequivocally condemning terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, reiterated zero tolerance approach to terrorism and rejected justification of terrorism on any ground whatsoever in a joint statement.Even though the 2 countries share strong counter-terrorism cooperation, this formulation is significant as Uzbekistan has not used the specific phrase "cross-border terrorism" in the past apex-level joint statements (between PM and president), like those issued after summit meetings in 2015, 2018 and in 2020. According to official sources, this reflects stronger diplomatic alignment on state-sponsored terrorism and regional security dynamics, especially in the context of the SCO summit on Tuesday in which leaders will address issues like the need for stronger counter-terrorism and the Afghanistan situation."Leaders called for concerted actions against terrorist entities and for disrupting terrorism financing networks, safe havens and infrastructure. Leaders stressed that those responsible for terrorism should be held accountable and their perpetrators, their backers, facilitators and affiliates should be brought to justice," said the joint statement. The strongest wording so far had come in the 2020 joint statement, after a virtual summit, in which PM Narendra Modi and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and also underlined the need for every country to ensure that its territory is not used to launch terrorist attacks against other countries.Read more: India, Uzbekistan target long-term uranium pactOn this occasion, the leaders stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in law enforcement, intelligence-sharing, and combating violent extremism, and illicit drug trafficking, organized crime, and cyber threats. They also reaffirmed the importance of continued cooperation under the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism in the joint statement.India and Uzbekistan, which shares border with Afghanistan, have shared concerns about radicalisation and influx of militant groups. For India, it's important to work with Uzbekistan and other countries in the region to prevent Afghanistan from turning into a haven for terrorist groups, particularly like LeT and JeM based in Pakistan. Tashkent is also home to Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), a permanent SCO body responsible for coordinating efforts by member-states against terrorism, extremism and separatism."The Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), recognizing it as an important platform for enhancing mutual trust, promoting regional peace, security and stability, and expanding cooperation in trade and economic affairs, investment, and cultural and humanitarian exchanges," said the joint statement.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.