External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Friday underscored India’s proactive stance against illegal drug production and trafficking. As co-chair of Working Group 1 during the Global Coalition Summit, Jaishankar focused on synthetic drug threats, and reiterated India’s commitment to combat the nexus between narco-trafficking and terrorism, emphasizing that smuggled drugs into the region directly finance terrorist activities.
Taking to social media, Jaishankar stated, “India has long been affected by the nexus between terrorist groups and narco-trafficking. To strengthen cooperation, we have signed 45 bilateral agreements and established a robust framework to regulate 27 precursor chemicals domestically.”
The Minister spotlighted the strengthening partnership between India and the United States, citing four meetings of the Counter Narcotics Working Group and the recent conclusion of a Bilateral Drug Framework and MoU in Wilmington as pivotal advancements.
He called for enhanced operational cooperation, intelligence sharing, and fortified law enforcement efforts to dismantle the synthetic drug trade. “United in this mission, we are confident that our collective resolve will create a safer, drug-free world for all,” he declared.
While attending the UNGA session in the US, Jaishankar engaged in bilateral talks with G4 counterparts and other global leaders from Spain, France, Venezuela, Malta, Panama, Cyprus, Moldova, Bolivia, and Guyana. Discussions encompassed regional issues, including ongoing conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine, as well as strategies to bolster bilateral relations.
