India and Bangladesh to work together against terrorism

Dhaka, June 26 (UNI) India and Bangladesh Foreign Secretary level talks ended here today with both sides agreeing to work together to fight against terrorism and insurgents in the common interest of peace and security.

New Delhi and Dhaka also stressed on enhancing security cooperation, particularly information sharing between the authorities concerned. They reiterated their commitment not to allow their territories to be used in any manner for activities inimical to the other and decided to hold the meeting of the Home Secretaries of both the countries at a mutually convenient date.

''It is our common interest to deal jointly with terrorists, criminals and insurgents or any one who breaks the law and tries to find sanctuary across the border,'' Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon told a press conference at the end of the two-day talks held after more than two years.

The two sides agreed to quickly resolve the problems concerning the demarcation of the remaining land boundary, exchange of enclaves and the adverse possession of lands.

The Indian side agreed to provide duty free access to products of LDCs including Bangladesh in phases by December 31 this year as announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the 14th SAARC summit in New Delhi.

The two sides signed an MOU to facilitate technical cooperation in the fields of standardisation, certification, testing, measurement and quality assurance system. It was agreed that a Joint Working Group on Trade will be convened soon.

Asked whether legal or mental barrier hold the two sides apart in implementing the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement, the Indian Foreign Secretary said there was not anything that holded them apart but they were trying to find a solution that suited both sides and the ground reality.

''We like to solve this problem as quickly as possible,'' he said.

On sharing of common river waters, the two sides agreed to hold a Joint Committee of Experts headed by Water Resources Secretaries to be followed by a meeting of the Joint Rivers Commission at the earliest.

On bilateral trade, the two sides discussed issues relating to tariff and non-tariff barriers, coordinated development of land customs stations, establishment of border hatts and facilitation of investment.

Asked if duty-free access to Bangladesh products would help reduce the trade imbalance of over four billion dollars, Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain said the trade imbalance cannot be removed overnight but the tariff concession would certainly help in this regard.

The meeting also underlined the need to improve rail, road, river and air connectivity between the two neighbours.

Before the starting of Dhaka-Kolkata train service, an Indian railway team will visit Dhaka next month to discuss the details of the operational modalities.

Asked about India's position on current situation under the military-backed caretaker government, Mr Menon said it is an internal matter of Bangladesh and it is up to the people of Bangladesh to decide their future.

However, he said India always want to see a peaceful, stable and democratic Bangladesh.

The Indian Foreign Secretary also met Chief Advisor of the caretaker government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and Chief of Army Staff Gen Moeen U Ahmed.

UNI