India-Australia-JWG for combating terrorism

New Delhi, Aug 29 (UNI) India and Australia have a Joint Working Group (JWG) on counter-terrorism and immigration, which has four times since its inception in 2003, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha today.

In a written reply, he said the fourth meeting of the JWG was held here on February 14, 2006 and the fifth meeting is scheduled to be held today and tomorrow at Canberra. The JWG on counter-terrorism and immigration provides a mechanism for bilateral cooperation in combating terrorism.

Responding to another question Mr Mukherjee said the Government was aware of the abduction of Indians in Nigeria and had taken steps for their safe release.

He said from May 2006 till date, 18 Indians were kidnapped by militants/criminal gangs in different parts of the Niger Delta region of the country.

He said as soon as our High Commission in Nigeria learnt of the unfortunate incidents, demarches were made to Nigerian authorities, both at the top as well as operative levels, and followed up with appropriate action.

Consequently, the safe release of all Indians was secured. In order to ensure the safety of the remaning Indians, suitable security advisories were issued, exhorting them to avoid travel to the violence-prone Niger Delta region and take all necessary security measures as a matter of routine in other parts of the country.

The companies employing Indians were also advised to strengten security provisions for their Indian emloyees, Mr Mukherjee added.

UNI