The National Security Chiefs of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) countries on Tuesday decided to enhance cooperation and coordination among their law enforcement, Intelligence and security organisations to counter spread of terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation.
During their maiden meeting held under the chairmanship of India, eight National Security Chiefs of BIMSTEC countries discussed a roadmap to address traditional and non-traditional security challenges in the region and ways to enhance capacity-building.
BIMSTEC is a regional grouping of South Asia and South East Asian countries having Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal as members.
“The meeting underscored the importance of recognising the Bay of Bengal as common security space and agreed to work out collective strategies for common responses,” officials of Ministry of External Affairs said later. BIMSTEC Member States were also invited for a Conference on Counter Radicalisation to be hosted by India soon.
The emerging trends in cyber space that have security implications were also discussed at length and it was agreed to deepen cooperation among the respective cyber institutions through a Joint Forum on cyber security.
India made an offer of 100 scholarships towards capacity building in security related sectors.