"I visited Australia some time ago to agree to the cooperation to thwart terrorism which is a common enemy to all of us," he said at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs here on Monday.
He made the remarks at a press conference held following a meeting with Australian Attorney General George Brandis to discuss security issues this year-end.
Under the program, state intelligence bodies of the two countries can learn from one another and exchange knowledge to improve each others intelligence, he said.
"Hopefully, the program will be able to complement each others shortcomings," he said.
The meeting between the Australian attorney general and Indonesian officials discussed a wide range of issues including counter-terrorism, cyber security and intelligence cooperation.
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Luhut Pandjaitan, said the meeting is the first of its kind.
. "Similar meetings will be held regularly. Next year, we will be invited to such a meeting in Australia," Luhut said at a press conference following the meeting.
Also present at the meeting were Indonesian National Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti, Head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Sutiyoso, Head of the National Counter-Terrorism Board (BNPT) Saud Usman Nasution, Head of the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) Muhammad Yusuf, and Head of the Strategic Intelligence Board (BAIS) Major General M Erwin Syafitri.
Earlier, Haiti said the police have just arrested nine suspected terrorists in the five districts of Cilacap, Tasikmalaya, Sukoharjo, Mojokerto and Gresik.
"Some of them are former members of Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) and are linked to the ISIS," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
