India, France to firm up counter-terror strategy during Macron visit

With India and France being close allies with common interest in the fight against terrorism and in the IndoPacific, New Delhi and Paris will firm up a strategy to work more closely with each other for the blacklisting of Pakistan-based terrorists at the United Nations. The strategy will be discussed and finalised during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to New Delhi next month, sources told The Sunday Guardian. President Macron will visit India as Chief Guest for the 75th Republic Day celebrations.

- T. BRAJESH

"French President's visit will be a much-awaited and much-needed opportunity for India to bolster and fasttrack joint efforts by New Delhi and Paris to counter cross border terrorism from Pakistan and also Khalistani extremists and separatists," sources in the diplomatic establishment here said.

Sources told this newspaper, "The strategy that is going to be finalised during Macron's visit will include moving joint proposals by India and France at the United Nations seeking blacklisting of some Pakistan-based terrorists. France will continue to back India's efforts to get terrorists blacklisted at the UN even if there is no joint proposal. Moreover, India and France will be working more comprehensively and strongly to counter China's possible move to block such proposals at the United Nations." India needs support from the French intelligence and security network to help counter Khalistani separatists involved in antiIndia activities on foreign soil. Sources say that the issue of pro-Khalistani elements will also be discussed during Macron's visit.