Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the international community needed to come together to “face the challenges” posed by terrorism, PTI reported. Singh, who is on a three-day visit to Bahrain, called terrorism a “global problem” and said India and Bahrain were working together to strengthen their security ties and counter-terrorist cooperation.
“India and Bahrain enjoy excellent bilateral relations characterised by broad-based political, economic and cultural contacts,” Singh said. The home minister is expected to discuss the issue of Pakistan's alleged relationship with militant groups as well as cross-border militancy with top Bahrain leaders, including Bahrain King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman al Khalifa.
Singh is expected to tell Bahrain, which belongs to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference – of which Pakistan is also a member – that New Delhi cannot take any assurances from Islamabad on it stopping terrorist groups at face value. This assumes significance as the OIC has expressed support for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue and has asked India to cease its “atrocities” in the Valley, according to Mint.
Relations between India and Pakistan deteriorated after 19 Indian Army soldiers were killed following a militant attack on their base in the Uri sector of Kashmir on September 18. New Delhi has further said that there has been an increase in ceasefire violations after it carried out surgical strikes on “terror launchpads” along the Line of Control on September 29.
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