India, Malaysia vow to fight terror

Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 1

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi as both nations sought to give a thrust to the bilateral relationship and their fight against global terror. This is Razak’s third visit to India and officials point out that this signals the importance that he attaches to the bilateral relationship. 

In his statement to the media after the two sides held delegation-level talks, Modi said the visit comes at a historic time when India and Malaysia are celebrating 60 years of ties. “I deeply appreciate our continuous cooperation with Malaysian government in our joint anti-terrorism efforts,” Modi said. The PM added that the leadership of the Malaysian PM in countering radicalisation and terrorism “is an inspiration for the entire region”. “We live in a time and in a region where both conventional and non conventional security threats are constantly on the rise,” Modi said. The Malaysian PM said the two sides had agreed to work together to fight global terror, militancy, ISIS and any form of extremism. 

Both India and Malaysia are pushing to strengthen the defence cooperation and also work together on issues like counterterrorism.  Seven memorandum of understandings (MoU), including an air services agreement, were signed between the two countries today. 

Earlier, Razak was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He then called on President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Hamid Ansari. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj too called on Razak.

Razak chose to first make a stop-over in Chennai on Thursday to meet Tamil superstar Rajinikanth. Both Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor are fans of the superstar and were on Friday hosted by the Tamil star at his residence. 

Rajinikanth dismissed rumours of him becoming the tourism ambassador for Malaysia. Razak will leave for Jaipur Sunday where he will meet Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia.