New Delhi and Tashkent Strengthen Counter-Terror Partnership
India and Uzbekistan reaffirmed their commitment to a stronger partnership against terrorism and to broader bilateral cooperation, according to recent official statements.
In New Delhi, Siby George, Secretary (West) at India's Ministry of External Affairs, held a meeting with Pirimkulov Gulomjon Shodmonkulovich, Head of the Department for South Asia, Near and Middle East and African Countries in Uzbekistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both sides discussed counter-terrorism cooperation and other common concerns.
The Ministry of External Affairs announced the meeting through a post on X.
Meanwhile, the 10th meeting of the India-Uzbekistan Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism was convened in New Delhi on October 22. Suhel Ajaz Khan, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, and Pirimkulov Gulomjon Shodmonkulovich jointly chaired the meeting.
The delegations surveyed the dangers posed by terrorist organisations operating across the world and within their regions. They also reviewed current and future challenges, including preventing radicalisation and extremism, curbing terror financing, stopping technology from being misused in terror activities, and addressing the growing overlap between transnational organised crime and terrorism.
The ministry said both countries agreed to face national and regional security challenges together and to strengthen the framework of the joint working group.
Discussions also focused on expanding counter-terrorism ties through information sharing, capacity building and the exchange of best practices. The two sides examined ways to enhance cooperation between the concerned agencies of India and Uzbekistan.
The countries also pledged to build mutual cooperation in multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, the SCO-RATS and the EAG.
On October 4, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant had met Robakhon Makhmudova, Chairperson of the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan, to discuss stronger judicial cooperation. The Indian Embassy in Tashkent noted that the talks also covered the use of artificial intelligence and digital technology in the justice system.
The Chief Justice had earlier attended the 7th Congress of the Association of Asian Constitutional Courts in Samarkand.
In May, the 17th round of Foreign Office Consultations took place in New Delhi, co-chaired by Siby George and Uzbekistan's First Deputy Foreign Minister Bakhromjon Aloev. The review covered trade and investment, tourism, technology, innovation, energy, education, culture and commercial matters, along with regional and global issues.