The meeting, chaired by Philippines Foreign Minister, Secretary Romulo, discussed the regional and international security situation as well as the future programme and direction of ARF activities.

In his intervention, Shri Mukherjee noted with satisfaction that ARF is helping consolidate efforts to address issues such as terrorism, trans-national organized crime, maritime security, natural disaster management, peacekeeping and energy security while continuing its basic task of promoting confidence building and mutual trust in the Asia-Pacific region.

Condemning the killing of the South Korean hostages by the Taliban, he outlined India’s perspective on developments in Afghanistan and pointed out that Indians engaged in humanitarian and reconstruction activity in Afghanistan too have fallen victim to the Taliban’s violent and destructive agenda. He emphasised that all states should contribute with sincerity to Afghanistan’s efforts to bring peace and development to all its regions.

All states must also abide by the commitments that they have made in the Global Counter Terrorism Strategy, adopted by the UN General Assembly last September by consensus and to take practical measures to ensure that their territories are not used for terrorist installations or training camps or for the preparation or organisation of terrorist acts against other states or their citizens.

Noting the progress of ARF activities in area of counter-terrorism, Shri Mukherjee announced that India shall be co-hosting in the coming year, along with Indonesia, the ARF Intersessional Meeting on Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime. He offered India’s help to ARF member states in building capacity to ensure the safety and security of sea lanes passing through the region. In this regard he announced that India would be designing and conducting a training module on maritime security specifically for the ARF Member States, with the themes of anti-piracy, search & rescue, offshore and port security, anti-smuggling and narcotics control and anti-poaching operation. In the same vein India would be conducting a regular training programme on UN Peacekeeping specifically for ARF Member States.In the discussion on non-proliferation issues, Shri Mukherjee said that India has a longstanding commitment to the objective of non-proliferation and believes that all States should transparently live up to the non-proliferation commitments that they have undertaken voluntarily.

India is also of the view that disarmament and non-proliferation are mutually reinforcing and go hand in hand.Recalling the emerging importance of energy security for the ARF region, he said that ARF could explore cooperative approaches to energy security. ARF efforts could cover technology cooperation both for renewable energy and for efficient utilization of energy. He pointed out that a renaissance in nuclear energy, a clean and sustainable source of energy, is underway. Innovative approaches to civil nuclear energy cooperation should therefore also be explored.

In discussions on the future direction of ARF, Shri Mukherjee welcomed the growing focus on non-traditional security threats which helps smoothen the transition from the stage of confidence building to preventive diplomacy. He hoped that the decisions taken at the 14th ARF inter alia on mechanisms to strengthen the institution of the ARF Chair would lead to a more efficient ARF that delivers value to all the participants.

ARF has come to occupy a unique position as a forum which brings together partners in the Asia-pacific region and beyond for a broad-based and useful dialogue on political and security issues. ARF has made significant contribution to promoting dialogue and forging cooperation in the region on issues of peace and security. For its part, India will continue to contribute to efforts to build peace, security and prosperity in the ARF region.