First Meeting of India-Australia Joint Steering Committee held in New Delhi

The First Meeting of India-Australia Joint Steering Committee (JSC) was held in New Delhi. The delegations for the meeting was led by TVSN Prasad, Additional Secretary, Union Ministry of Home Affairs andStephen Bouwhuis, First Assistant Secretary, International and Auscheck Division, Criminal Justice Group, Attorney-General’s Department.

Key Facts

During JSC meeting both countries discussed scope for cooperation in counter-terrorism and checking extremism and radicalization besides steps to check illegal financial transactions and counterfeiting and cybercrimes.
They also discussed issues related to human trafficking and people smuggling, combating illegal drug trafficking and sharing information between law enforcement agencies were also discussed. They also agreed to pursue further agenda for cooperation in specific areas with meetings of operational Joint Working Groups (JWGs) involving concerned agencies.

Background

The first JSC meeting was follow-up to Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime signed between both countries during visit of Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to India in April 2017.

Month: Current Affairs - October, 2017