They discussed ways to strengthen international cooperation to combat terrorism and transnational crimes

India and the ASEAN have condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Attending the 9th ASEAN-India Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crimes (SOMTC) held virtually on Wednesday, representatives of both sides also emphasized the need to strengthen international cooperation to combat terrorism and transnational crimes.

"Both sides strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and emphasized the need to strengthen international cooperation to combat terrorism and transnational crimes in a comprehensive and sustained manner," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.

Both parties discussed ways to improve collaboration in various areas, in accordance with the ASEAN-India Work Plan to Combat Transnational Crime.

"During the Consultation, both sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation interalia, in the areas of terrorism, illicit drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, international economic crime and cyber crime under the framework of ASEAN-India Work Plan to combat Transnational Crimes," the MEA added.

The two sides also addressed institutional ties and capacity-building initiatives.

The meeting was co-chaired by Mahaveer Singhvi, Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism), Ministry of External Affairs, from the Indian side, and Puah Kok Keong, Deputy Secretary (Policy), Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore, from the ASEAN side.

Indonesia would be hosting the 10th ASEAN-India SOMTC Consultation on Transnational Crimes in 2023.

In 1992, India started a "Sectoral Dialogue Partner" relationship with ASEAN, and in 1996, it became a "Dialogue Partner." The leaders of ASEAN and India declared 2022 to be the ASEAN-India Friendship Year in October 2021, which coincides with the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.