France to Host Multi Agency Indian Delegation to Further Counter-Terror Ties

NEW DELHI: France will host a visiting Indian delegation from three agencies of the Ministry of Home Affairs: the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) from Oct 1-4 as part of counter-terror partnership.

This action, which forms part of the Indo-French strategic partnership and the bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation plan between the two countries, will specifically deal with the theme of bioterrorism threat management.

During their stay, the delegates will participate in bilateral meetings with the Directorate General for Civil Security and Crisis Management (DGSCGC), the Paris Fire Brigade (BSPP), and the National Gendarmerie’s Armoured Division (GBGN).

On 2nd – 3rd October, they will attend an interministerial exercise in the department of Yvelines, organized by the Paris Defence and Security Zone Prefecture, in liaison with the National Civil and Military Education and Training Centre for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) risks, which will actively involve several hundred personnel mainly from the intervention and rescue departments.

The delegation will also have privileged interactions, organised with the support of Business France, with French companies specialising in the production of materials and equipment useful for crisis management.

Welcoming the intensified exchanges in this area, Ambassador-Designate of France to India, Emmanuel Lenain, said, “France and India work concertedly to combat terrorism in all its forms. This cooperation action illustrates the high degree of trust and cooperation between our police forces. It will encourage the exchange of best practices and the development of a network of practitioners capable of mobilising very swiftly against a threat that is itself very fast-evolving.”

Source: ET

Image Courtesy: Economic Times