‘Kuwait-India share common vision for peace and security'
KUWAIT CITY, May 27: Head of the Indian parliamentary delegation MP Baijayant Panda praised the stance of Kuwait and its tremendous efforts in resolving conflicts and consolidating the foundations of peace; describing it as 'a model that should be emulated in the pursuit of a better world.' In a press conference held with the media on Tuesday, Panda affirmed that Kuwait plays a notable, effective and influential role; and enjoys high credibility in its efforts to promote peace regionally and internationally.
He expressed his satisfaction with the results of the visit and the fruitful meetings held by the delegation, confirming the deep historical relations between Kuwait and India in various fields. He pointed out that the two countries enjoy extensive cooperation, particularly in the trade and economic sectors, which are witnessing rapid growth. He expressed his pride in this cooperation and in the large Indian community in Kuwait. He said the Indian community -- the largest in the country -- receives major support, care and attention from the Kuwaiti authorities. He praised its diversity, productivity and effective contribution to the Kuwaiti economy, stressing it is a peaceful community that does not espouse any political orientations. He cited commonalities between the two countries, specifically, the suffering from terrorism and a shared commitment to combating it, as per the agreement reached during the Dushanbe Conference on Combating Terrorism, chaired by Kuwait. He added 'we discussed with the Kuwaiti side several initiatives to enhance security cooperation in the field of counterterrorism. We witnessed the enthusiasm of our brothers in Kuwait, as reflected in the discussions that took place during the Joint Committee meeting, co-chaired by the two countries' foreign ministers last year.'
He lauded Kuwait's clear position in condemning the attack on the Kashmir region through official statements issued at a high level, stressing that his country harbors no hostility toward the Pakistani people. He stated, 'we are ready to build positive relations with Pakistan, provided that it changes its strategy and adopts an approach of peace and mutual respect.' He indicated that India recently adopted a new strategy to confront terrorist threats as a direct response rather than waiting, and includes imposing economic sanctions on trade, shipping, water and visas. He emphasized the importance of time-bound dialogue as a means of reaching final solutions to outstanding issues.
He said the challenges associated with combating terrorism exist in India, Kuwait and other countries around the world. 'However, the difference lies in the objectives for which terrorism is used. India is firm in its position of zero tolerance for any form of terrorism,' he asserted. On the Palestinian issue, he reiterated his country's firm position in support of the two-state solution as the primary option for ending the Arab- Israeli conflict. He added that India has allocated a budget to support economic aid for Gaza and the West Bank.
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