Voicing grave concern over rising trend of extremism and terrorism worldwide, India and Kyrgyzstan today signed four agreements including one to boost defence cooperation and hold annual joint military exercises.

The two countries also agreed to expeditiously consider signing an agreement on “combating international terrorism and other crimes”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived here last night as part of his eight-day six-nation tour to Central Asia, emphasised the need to combat terrorism and extremism which he described as a threat without borders.

“We both seek a peaceful and secure neighbourhood at a time of challenges in our region. And, we have shared interest in combating extremism and terrorism that has become a threat without borders,” he said in a joint press meet along with President Almazbek Atambayev after their talks.

The agreements include one on defence cooperation and culture. Two MoUs were also signed for cooperation between the Election Commissions of the two countries and on cooperation in the sphere of Standards, a move that will help economic relations.

A joint statement released later said both sides “expressed grave concern at the rising trend of extremism, radicalism and terrorism in the region and whole world“.

It said the Indian side highly appreciated the steps taken by the Kyrgyz government in combating terrorism and in retaining the secular character of Kyrgyz society.

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