Lok Sabha Question No. 2940 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: India-Iran Relations
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: B. SREERAMULU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2940 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2016

## INDIA-IRAN RELATIONS

2940. SHRI B. SRIRAMULU:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the India-Iran bilateral relations has been helping us to deal with terrorism;
- (b)     if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether India and Iran have signed some MoUs with regard to sharing  information  about  terrorism  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  achieved/gained  considerable ground by engaging  with Iran recently and effectively; and
- (e)     if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) to (e) During the recent visit of Prime Minister to Iran on 22-23 May 2016, Prime Minister and President Rouhani of Iran noted with deep  concern  that  terrorism  and  ideologies  of  violent  extremism continue  to  infest  and  ingress  the  region  posing  a  grave  threat  to peace, security, stability and development. They stressed the need to completely eradicate all forms of terrorism, and defeat the forces of  extremism.  They  urged  an  immediate  end  to  all  support  and sanctuaries enjoyed by terrorist groups and individuals and were of the view that States that aid, abet and directly or indirectly support terrorism should be condemned. They called upon all States to have zero tolerance towards terrorism, explicitly reject and stop the use of terrorism against other countries, dismantle terrorism infrastructure where it exists, end forthwith all support and financing to terrorists using their territories to harm other countries and  ensure  that  all  perpetrators  of  terrorism  who  are  in  their jurisdiction are brought to justice.

The  two  sides  reiterated  their  resolve  to  strengthen  the international consensus and legal regimes against terrorism, including  effective  cooperation  among  the  states  in  resolving  the outstanding  issues  related  the  draft  Comprehensive  Convention against International Terrorism conducive to its finalization. Government also supported the initiative, taken by Islamic Republic of Iran in the United Nation General Assembly in 2013, titled World against violence and extremism (WAVE). There is no specific  MoU between India and Iran on information exchange related to terrorism. However, there is growing interaction  between  the  National  Security  Councils  of  the countries  since  2002.  National  Security  Advisor  visited  Iran  in February 2015 to discuss ways of enhancing cooperation between the two countries regarding security and related matters.

During the visit of Prime Minister in May 2016, it was  agreed to enhance regular and institutionalised consultations between the National  Security  Council  of  India  and  Supreme  National  Security Council (SNSC) of Iran and others concerned on terrorism, security and  related  issues  such  as  organised  crime,  money-laundering, narcotics trade and cyber crime.

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