New Delhi: India and Canada on February 23 resolved to work together to neutralize the threats emanating from Sikh militant outfits Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation along with LeT and Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed.
This was announced in the ‘Framework for Cooperation between India and Canada on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism’ document, released after extensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau.
The document, which was finalized by India’s National Security Advisor and National Security and Intelligence Advisor of Canada, also said that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivations, whenever, wherever and by whomsoever they are committed.
“They recognized the urgent imperative to disrupt recruitment, terrorist movements and the flow of Foreign Terrorist Fighters, address the threat posed by cross-border and state-sponsored terrorism, stop sources of terrorist financing, dismantle terrorist infrastructure and prevent supply of arms to terrorists and counter violent extremism and radicalization to violence,” the document said.
The top security officials of the two countries also emphasized the need to deny operating space to terrorist and violent extremist groups.
“They committed to work together to neutralize the threats emanating from terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda, ISIS, the Haqqani Network, LeT, JeM, Babbar Khalsa International, and the International Sikh Youth Federation,” it said.
While Babbar Khalsa International, or better known as Babbar Khalsa, is a Sikh militant organization now based in Lahore, Pakistan, and reportedly operates in Canada, Germany, the UK and some parts of India, the International Sikh Youth Federation is a proscribed organization that aims to establish an independent homeland for the Sikhs of India in Khalistan.
As multi-cultural, diverse, pluralistic societies, committed to democratic principles, human rights and the rule of law, India and Canada recognize the grave challenges posed by terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization, it said.
The two sides reaffirmed the shared resolve to combat terrorism and violent extremism in all their forms and manifestations.
The security officials reviewed the ongoing collaboration between the law enforcement and security agencies of both countries and resolved to step up their bilateral cooperation under the supervision of the National Security Advisor’s Dialogue, the Joint Working Group on Counter-terrorism and the Experts’ Sub-Group.
To this end, they committed to further develop exchanges and facilitate effective cooperation in the fields of security, finance, justice, and law enforcement, including, where appropriate, at the operational level.
“India and Canada have agreed on this Framework for Cooperation on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism (the “Framework”), the objective of which is to facilitate effective cooperation between law enforcement and security agencies and legal and policy practitioners,” the document said.
The framework is based on fundamental respect for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of India and Canada.
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