India raises concerns over cross-border terrorism in a 67-nation meeting with US

India was among 67 nations that participated in a ministerial meeting, which was hosted by the United States again, which they described as "growing political terrorism". The meeting was attended by the Indian Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra. According to the Times of India, the meeting saw US Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling upon participating nations to unite against "left-wing terrorism".

He went on to claim that the threat from jihadist terrorism has severely diminished. While Kwatra highlighted India's experience in tackling challenges from left-wing extremism, he emphasised the significance of adopting zero tolerance towards all forms of terrorism.

The Indian envoy raised concerns over growing cross-border terrorism and groups espousing separatist agendas. Out of the 67 nations, many sent junior diplomats since they remained hesitant over the danger of framing the left-wing threat relative to the dangers posed by Islamist and right-wing extremism.

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Rubio raises alarm over left-wing radicals

While addressing the gathering, the American secretary of state maintained that the era of "left-wing violence" has to end. He noted that political leaders, experts and law officials from over 60 countries were attending the meeting despite the differences that their countries had with the US over issues like trade, immigration and energy.

Rubio said this reflected concerns over "far-left political terrorism", The Times of India reported. "Today’s far-left terrorists can raise money in one country; they can host their communications in a second country; they can receive training in a third country; they can recruit militants in a fourth country; and then together strike a target in a fifth country. And so, we have no choice but to confront this menace together,” he said.

What might not have sat well with India was the fact that Rubio downplayed the threat from radical Islamist extremism. The American diplomat insisted that the threat from jihadist terrorism had been scaled down because of the successful counterterrorism strategies adopted by the US and Europe.

“The threat (jihadist) has not disappeared, of course. It will continue to exist, particularly so long as we tolerate immigration systems that import these threats directly into our respective homelands. But this threat has been severely diminished,” said Rubio. However, for India, the jihadist threat remains one of the crucial challenges for the country's national security.