India signs pact on security cooperation with Russia

New Delhi, Nov 27 (IANS) India on Monday signed an agreement with Russia -- Cooperation on Security -- aimed at a comprehensive approach on issues like high-tech crimes, counterfeit currency and illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and humans, an official said.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Kolokoltsev signed the agreement and agreed to hold the next Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on counter-terrorism between India and Russia in 2018.

Rajnath Singh is on a three-day visit to Russia from November 27 to 29.

"This is an updated and more comprehensive agreement on cooperation on security between Ministry of Home Affairs of India and the Ministry of Interior of the Russian Federation," a Home Ministry statement said.

"This agreement provides a comprehensive approach for cooperation in security-related issues, including IT crimes, counterfeit currency, illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, trafficking in human beings, economic crimes, crimes related to intellectual property and cultural property, amongst others."

Both ministers emphasised on the strength of the relationship between India and Russia and underlined that cooperation in the field of security was an important aspect to further strengthen the efforts against terrorism, extremism and radicalism.

The two leaders agreed that "terrorism must be fought unitedly and there are no good or bad terrorists".

They also agreed to cooperate in combating new challenges, enhanced exchange of information, cooperation in building a data base and in training of police and investigating agencies, the statement said.

A Joint Action Plan between India and Russia for 2018-20 was also signed by the Ambassador of India to Russia Pankaj Saran and State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Russia Igor Zubov.