Bangladesh, new epicentre of terror: Jaswant

New Delhi, Jun 2 (UNI) Former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh today described Bangladesh as a ''new hub of terror''.

Mr Singh made this observation while releasing the resolution on ''Foreign Policy-National Security and UPA's Disastrous Governance'' adopted at the party's National Executive meeting late last night.

''Bangladesh is a great worry (for us)... it has become what Pakistan was seven years ago...an epicentre of terrorism,'' he said adding ''the terrorists operating in the Northeast get shelter in Bangladesh.'' Criticising the 'weak' policy of the government towards terrorism, Mr Singh said Bangladesh has now become a centre of ISI activities which was spreading terror in India and harbouring terror groups, particularly ULFA, active in the Northeast region.

The party demanded that the UPA government make clear to the Bangladesh regime to immediately stop ''unchecked, unhindered and illegal infiltration into India. India is not a 'sarai'(shelter) of convenience.'' The resolution demanded that India tell Bangladesh in an unequivocal manner that it must stop providing shelter to terrorist insurgents from both India and Bangladesh. ''The recently witnessed proliferation in the terrorist activities of 'Bangladeshi groups' in India, is an unfriendly act on the part of that country.'' The entire region was in 'turmoil'. But it is the duty of the government to 'free and secure' India from the disturbed neighbourhood, be it Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Iran, Mr Singh said.

The resolution, meanwhile, welcomed the restoration of democracy in Pakistan, saying a peaceful social and political order in Pakistan would be beneficial to both the countries.

It, however, expressed concern at recent incidents of cross-border firing in Samba, Mendhar and Tangdhar regions in Jammu and Kashmir, adding that the LoC ceasefire, initiated by the NDA government, must be maintained without violation.

The resolution also underscored the need to remind Pakistan of the January 6, 2004 joint statement of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf that Pakistan would not allow its soil to be used for carrying out cross-border terrorism.

UNI KAS/MCN BDP RP AS1624