Pranab bats for united fight against terror, scourge of IS
AMMAN: India on Sunday batted for remedying its weakening links with the Arab world, something that could also help it deal with the growing threat from the Islamic State.
President Pranab Mukherjee, the first Indian president to visit Jordan, met its Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour and other officials, seeking cooperation to deal with terror comprehensively on multiple fronts. Jordan shares boundaries with countries like trouble-torn Syria and Iraq, along with others, and has been resisting IS expanse into its territory.
Mukherjee’s visit is seen as India’s desire to deepen its engagement with Jordan, which has come to New Delhi’s aid in evacuating its people working there from a conflict-affected neighbourhood.
“The President and the Jordanian prime minister discussed issues like terrorism, Syria, Palestine, UN reforms, and engagements between the two sides,” secretary (East) Anil Wadhwa said.
Both sides agreed a long-term solution, and not a military one, was needed to the Syrian problem. Addressing faculty and students later at the University of Jordan, Mukherjee said, “West Asia is a vital part of India’s extended neighbourhood and millions of Indians live and work here.”
Sources in the Indian government indicated India was willing to engage deeper with Jordan to modernise its education system to help minimise the threat of radicalism. New Delhi also wants to increase economic activities to help create jobs in the country and also benefit India in the long run. On Sunday, the nations signed 10 academic MOUs, besides five others in the fields of maritime shipping, IT and others.