New Delhi: Stating that relations with Sudan are historic and special, India on Monday welcomed the removal of Sudan from the List of State Sponsors of Terrorism and Sudan’s normalisation of relations with Israel.
On October 23, Sudan became the third Arab country to normalise ties with Israel, days after the US removed it from its State Sponsor of Terrorism list.
The North African country was in the list for over 27 years.
“We congratulate the Transitional Government and the people of Sudan on the signing of the Juba Peace Agreement, and hope that these positive developments will usher in democratic changes and contribute to enhancing Sudan’s development, peace, security and stability,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a release.
India’s relations with Sudan are historic and special, and forged on the basis of shared values and close people-to-people contacts, it added.
On October 19, US President Donald Trump had said he would be removing Sudan from the terrorism list, which effectively kept the impoverished nation off the global financial system since 1993, on a condition.
Mr Trump had said that he would be removing Sudan from the list in exchange for $335 million in compensation for victims of terror attacks on US embassies in East Africa in 1998 and on a US warship in Yemen in 2000.
The same day, Sudan accepted the offer and Trump tweeted: “GREAT news! New government of Sudan, which is making great progress, agreed to pay $335 MILLION to U.S. terror victims and families. Once deposited, I will lift Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. At long last, JUSTICE for the American people and BIG step for Sudan!”
On October 23, the US, Sudan and Israel released a joint statement announcing the normalisation of relations between Sudan and Israel.
