Bahrain. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said that India and Bahrain, both the countries, are vulnerable to the scourge of terrorism.
Mr Singh, who was on a three-day visit to Bahrain, said this during his bilateral meeting with Interior Minister of Bahrain Lt. General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa in capital Manama October 24.
Expressing his concern over the terrorism, he said that the terrorism constitutes the greatest threat to humanity since World War II. There are no good or bad terrorists, he added.
Mr Singh said that terrorism should be dealt in a comprehensive manner. Segmented and partial approaches as adopted by some of the countries have been unsuccessful in countering terrorism, he added.
The Union Home Minister thanked Bahraini leadership for condemning the recent terrorist attack in Uri in September and the Pathankot airbase attack in January this year. He said that it is a matter of satisfaction that the world opinion is with India in its resolution to dismantle the launching pads of terrorism from across the border.
Mr Singh expressed happiness over the fact that the bilateral Security Dialogue at the Deputy NSA level has now been institutionalised. The second round was held in New Delhi last week, he added.
The Home Minister said that signing of agreement for Cooperation in combating international terrorism, transnational organized crime and trafficking in illicit drugs, narcotic and psychotropic substances and precursors chemicals has laid strong foundation for enhanced security/counter-terrorism cooperation between the two countries. He also said that India would like to enhance ties with Bahraini defence and security establishment.
The visiting Indian minister said that India is keen to strengthen trade and investment ties with Bahrain and avail of the strategic location of Bahrain as a “gateway” to the GCC market. While our bilateral trade is healthy and has reached about $1 billion, there is still a huge potential to further expand it, he added.
Mr Singh said that the presence of a large Indian community in Bahrain constitutes an important link between our two countries. Indians are the largest expatriate community in Bahrain, he added. He thanked the Bahraini authorities for launching the ‘Little India in Bahrain’. This is a praiseworthy gesture towards India and Indian community and will promote Indian culture in Bahrain, the Home Minister said.
During the meeting, he said that ties between the two countries go back many centuries and are based on mutual trust and respect. Both enjoy warm, close and multi-faceted relations between our two countries underpinned by cultural, religious and economic linkages, he added.
On the first day of his visit October 23, Mr Singh interacted with the Indian community at Indian School Bahrain, Isa Town. He said that Bahrain had supported India on many occasions and India will reciprocate the same to Bahrain, more than what Bahrain has given to India.
