Put a stop to anti-India acts: India asks Dhaka

New Delhi, Aug 27: India has conveyed to Bangladesh its concern over "growing" anti-India activities of Pakistan's ISI from its soil.

At a four-day Home Secretary-level talks, which concluded today in Dhaka, India pointed out that recent terrorist incidents here have clear links with Bangladesh individuals and outfits like HUJI.

Home Secretary V K Duggal, who led the Indian delegation, sought action against Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs) operating from Bangladesh's territory. In this context, India cited in particular the presence and activities of groups like ULFA.

Home Ministry sources said here that both sides agreed that terrorism posed a threat to both countries and that there was a need to combine efforts closely to tackle this menace.

Both sides agreed to examine the possibility of quickly instituting a bilateral mechanism to combat terrorism and organised crime.

During his four-day stay, Mr Duggal called on the Bangladesh Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan and Bangladesh Minister of State for Home Affairs Md Lutfuzzaman Babar.

"The talks took place in an atmosphere of utmost cordiality, candor and friendship," sources said.

The meeting decided to organise at an early date a joint visit by both the countries to the enclaves and areas under adverse possession without prejudice to each other's positions.

Both sides agreed for exercising utmost restraint along the Bangladesh-India border to avoid any untoward incidents and avail of the existing institutional mechanism to resolve situations arising out of such incidents.

On the issue of border fencing, the Indian side conveyed details of those areas where fencing is required within 150 yards from the international boundary. India complained that its farmers and cultivators were being prevented from tilling land within 150 yards from the international boundary. In this context, India stressed that such incidents should not be allowed to become an unnecessary irritant and that the legitimate needs of the people such as tilling of the land, cultivators, should be fully taken into account.

The Indian side drew attention to the continuing, large scale illegal immigration from Bangladesh into India. Even those who traveled to India with valid travel documents sometimes tended not to return to Bangladesh.

Recognising the security ramifications of the issue both sides emphasised the need for greater vigilance and stronger cooperation between the two countries to prevent illegal movement of goods and people.

Both sides agreed to exercise greater vigilance with a view to checking and preventing the illicit flow of drugs, narcotics and arms and explosives across the border and agreed to actively cooperate to tackle the common menace of smuggling of their fake currencies.

UNI