India, China to set up anti-terror panel

India and China on Thursday agreed to form a ministerial-level mechanism, to be 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 and drug trafficking.

The decision to form the ministerial mechanism was agreed upon after Union home minister Rajnath Singh’s talks here with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and interior minister Guo Shengkun.

The ministerial mechanism, which would be followed by a comprehensive memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the security-related issues to be worked out, will become operational during Mr Guo’s visit to India next year, Mr Singh told the media here after his meetings with Mr Li and Mr Guo.

The committee will handle issues like terrorism, security and law enforcement-related issues, transborder crimes, cyber crimes and drug trafficking. The committee will meet annually to review the progress, Mr Singh said.

“There is a common recognition by both sides that terrorism is a common threat. It is a transnational and transborder threat which requires our joint response,” he said, adding that he discussed the same in talks with Mr Li.