Urging the need to strengthen international cooperation to combat the "global scourge" of terrorism, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Saturday said that zero-tolerance for terrorism must be an uncompromising universal norm.

In his opening remarks at the 2nd India Arab Foreign Ministers meeting in the capital, EAM Jaishankar asserted that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations remains a common threat in both the regions. "Cross-border terrorism is particularly unacceptable because it violates the basic principles of international relations and diplomacy. Societies targeted by terrorism have the right to defend themselves and will understandably exercise it. It is essential that we strengthen international cooperation to combat what is a global scourge. Zero-tolerance for terrorism must be an uncompromising universal norm," he said.