India and Russia have held comprehensive discussions on combating international terrorism and reaffirmed their commitment to consolidate bilateral interaction in the fight against this menace. At the seventh meeting of the India-Russia Joint Working

Group in New Delhi yesterday, the two countries emphasised that their cooperation in countering new challenges and threats is an integral part of the Indian-Russian special and privileged strategic partnership.

An official statement said, the sides underlined the role of international efforts in preventing and suppressing terrorism including the consistent implementation of the UN Global Counter-terrorism Strategy and the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.

The two countries noted the importance of the early conclusion of the negotiation process aimed at agreeing within the framework of the UN General Assembly on the draft Comprehensive Convention

on International Terrorism that was put forward by India. The two sides also expressed concern about the continuous threat of cross-border terrorism, and reaffirmed their commitment to consolidate bilateral interaction in the fight against this global scourge.

The talks were co-chaired by Asoke Kumar Mukerji, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs and Ambassador Alexander Zmeevsky, Special Representative of Russian President on International Cooperation in Combating Terrorism and Transnational Organised Crime.