Bahrain backs India in fight against terrorism

In what may well be another shot in the arm for the Narendra Modi government’s initiative to isolate Pakistan in the international community on terrorism, Bahrain said that a terrorist in one country cannot be glorified as a freedom fighter by another, in an obvious reference to Pakistan’s praise for slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

This was part of a joint statement issued following a meeting between Union home minister Rajnath Singh and Bahrain interior minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa on Tueday. “India and Bahrain reject the linking of terrorism to any race, religion or culture. Both the countries agreed that a terrorist in one country cannot be glorified as a freedom fighter by another, and the two sides called upon all states to reject the use of terrorism against other countries, to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the state, and to fight terrorist infrastructure whenever it exists,” the joint statement said. Mr Singh is currently on a three-day visit to Bahrain, where he is meeting the country’s top leadership discussing a host of issues related to terrorism and security. In a strong stand the two sides also said,“terrorism is a hazard to all countries and communities.” Mr Rashid also said Bahrain was looking forward to working with India on the issue of terrorism.