New Delhi, Oct. 13 -- Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday asked BIMSTEC member countries to boost intelligence-sharing, extradition and joint law enforcement to fight cross-border terrorism, organised crime, narcotics trafficking and human trafficking.
Speaking at the first-ever Home Ministers-and Home Secretaries-level meeting of the seven-nation regional grouping, Shah said criminal syndicates were using international borders and gaps between countries to grow their "criminal empires".
"We cannot fight these issues in isolation," he said while briefing the ministers about India's efforts to combat terrorism and insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir and Assam.
"India has never believed in attacking or establishing supremacy over any country. India respects the sovereignty of every nation. We believe in resolving all disputes bilaterally," he said.
The minister said there was a need to share actionable intelligence in real-time and also ensure that no country provided a safe haven to criminals.
"Criminal organisations are using encrypted applications, social media, drones, cryptos and the dark web to target and lure people into terror camps or to indulge in financial frauds," he said, adding there was a need for joint efforts in the areas of extradition and repatriation.
"Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand constitute the 'Golden Triangle' of narcotics trafficking in the world. Drug cartels are a big threat to the young generation of our countries," he said, adding that there was a need to formulate a regional strategy to combat the menace of drugs.
He also said that "human trafficking and cyber slavery" were major issues affecting the region and a common protocol among BIMSTEC nations would help to combat such crimes.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.