India and Tajikistan have decided to expand their defence and security ties even as they vowed to jointly address issues concerning terrorism and extremism during the visit of President of the Central Asian country Emomali Rahmon.

“The two leaders reviewed the bilateral defence and security cooperation and decided to further extend and expand existing cooperation,” stated the joint statement that was issued after a bilateral meeting between Rahmon and Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Saturday.

Both sides also lauded conclusion of the Foreign Office Consultations on November 17 and the meeting of the Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation on November 2 and agreed that this kind of consultations along with Joint Commission of Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, Joint Working Group on Counter-terrorism and regular consultations between National Security Council must continue for mutual benefit.

“The two leaders discussed situation in the region and stressed that terrorism and extremism seriously threaten peace, stability and progress for all countries,” the statement said.

Both leaders also decided to enhance trade and business ties between them by using the Chahbahar Port in Iran.

“We will work on trade and transit linkages through Chahbahar Port in Iran,” said Modi as he hailed Tajikistan as one of India’s “valued friend and strategic partner.”

The two leaders called for exploring the possibility of increasing flight operations between the two countries. They asked respective officials for bilateral consular consultations to explore ways for easier business, medical and tourist and other visas to promote people to people exchanges.

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