Italian, Indian premiers vow to jointly fight terror

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI, India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni on Monday resolved to jointly fight against terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations.

Gentiloni arrived in capital New Delhi Sunday on a two-day official visit, making him the first Italian premier to visit India after a decade.

In a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs, Modi said: "We discussed several aspects of cooperation between India and Italy in our detailed meetings today.

“Both of us are committed to fight unitedly against terror and on the issue of cybersecurity. India and Italy are also committed to increase tourism and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Paolo Gentiloni said: "We have strong economic relations and it's a great opportunity to make it stronger. We have common interests in the global arena," the statement added.

The two countries also signed six agreements linked to railways, energy and cultural cooperation.

Modi also said India and Italy can take bilateral trade between the countries beyond $8.8 billion.

Later, both leaders interacted with Indian and Italian business representatives in an effort to boost economic and investment cooperation.

India and Italy have been trying to improve ties after sharing a bitter relationship for almost five years over a controversy involving two Italian marines.

The marines -- Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone -- were accused of killing Indian fishermen in 2012 in off the Indian state of Kerala.

India slapped murder charges on the marines who were on board the tanker Enrica Lexi.

The Italians claimed they had accidentally shot at the fishermen on suspicion that they were pirates.

Both marines are now in Italy, pending an order from the arbitration court at The Hague, where a trial against them is due.