Focus on security,counter-terrorism

India and Thailand on Wednesday agreed to intensify their cooperation on security,defence and counter-terrorism issues. This was announced after the meeting of Thailand PM Yingluck Shinawatra with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Stressing the need to step up bilateral cooperation and exchanges in the fields of defence,counter-terrorism and security,Singh said he underlined to Shinawatra the need to put in place a bilateral legal framework to deal with non-state actors and subversive elements that pose a common threat. In this context,we have concluded an Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons, he said.

A joint statement said both leaders underlined that the increasing menace of terrorists,criminals,arms and drug traffickers provided an added urgency to strengthen cooperation. They also agreed that a five-year Joint Working Programme on specific elements of cooperation would be finalised urgently.

The two sides will also expedite the ongoing negotiations on Bilateral Extradition Treaty and the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty on Civil and Commercial Matters.