New Delhi: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that transnational and cross-border terrorism is the gravest threat that the world is facing and called for immediate attention from the international community while addressing the 9th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meet in Siem Reap, news agency ANI reported. "The gravest threat requiring urgent & resolute intervention by int'l community is transnational & cross-border terrorism. Indifference can no longer be a response, as terrorism has found victims globally," Defence Minister said.
Rajnath Singh is in Cambodia to attend the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus and India-ASEAN Defence Ministers meeting. "Terrorist groups have created interlinkages across continents backed by new-age technologies to transfer money &recruit supporters. Transformation of cyber-crimes into organized cyber-attacks point to increasing use of new technologies,by both,State &non-State actors," Singh further added.
Singh said that a peaceful Indo-Pacific with ASEAN at its centre, is important for the world's progress and security when the world is seeing increasing strife amplified by disruptive politics. "We're meeting at a time when the world is seeing increasing strife amplified by disruptive politics. Peaceful Indo-Pacific, with ASEAN at its centre, becomes vital more than ever for world's security&prosperity," Defence Minister said at the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meet.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called for a free, open, and inclusive order in the Indo-Pacific region based on respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations and the peaceful resolution of disputes. "India calls for a free, open and inclusive order in the Indo-Pacific, based upon respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and adherence to international rules and laws," Singh said.
Singh said he hoped that a code of conduct that is being negotiated in the South China Sea would lead to results that are in sync with international law. "We hope that the ongoing negotiations on the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea will be fully consistent with international law, in particular, UNCLOS, and should not prejudice the legitimate rights and interests," ANI reported Singh saying.
The ADMM-Plus is a platform comprising 10-nation ASEAN and its eight dialogue partners -- India, China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the US.
Recently, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar attended the 17th East Asia Summit in Cambodia along with EAM Dr. S Jaishankar.