India and China on Thursday agreed to form a
ministerial-level mechanism headed by their home ministers for the first time
to step up cooperation and coordination on a host of security-related issues,
including cross-border terrorism, smuggling and drug trafficking.
The decision to form the ministerial mechanism was agreed
upon after Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s interaction with Chinese Premier Li
Keqiang and Interior Minister Guo Shengkun.
The ministerial mechanism which would be followed by a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding on the security-related issues to be worked out, will become operational during Guos visit to India next year, Singh told the media here after his meetings with Li and Guo.
The committee will handle issues like terrorism, security and law enforcement related issues, trans-border crimes, cyber-crimes and drug trafficking.
Besides various aspects of security issues, the mechanism significantly would focus on cross border terrorism and information-sharing on terrorism which India and China face from a “joint source” - Pakistan.
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