Both countries’ interior ministers discuss joint counter-terror measures against citizens joining thousands of their nationals fighting alongside jihadist groups in Iraq, Syria.

France and Tunisia will cooperate in attempts to prevent citizens joining thousands of their nationals fighting alongside jihadist groups in Iraq and Syria, Paris’ interior minister said Monday.

Bernard Cazeneuve, on a visit to Tunis for talks with his counterpart Lofti Ben Jeddou, said the two discussed joint counter-terror measures against battle-hardened nationals “who could return to our countries and present a danger”.

He told reporters France and Tunisia had decided to focus on “deradicalisation, the question of preventing their departure and… deepening cooperation between our security services and police on these matters”.

Some 1,000 French nationals and close to 3,000 Tunisians have already travelled to Iraq and Syria to fight alongside jihadist militias such as the Islamic State group since 2011, according to official figures.