India-Australia JWG for combating terrorism
New
Delhi,
Aug
29:
The
two-day
fifth
meeting
of
Joint
Working
Group
(JWG)
between
India
and
Australia
on
counter-terrorism
and
immigration
will
start
today
at
Canberra,
External
Affairs
Minister
Pranab
Mukherjee
told
the
Lok
Sabha
today.
The Minister, in a written reply, said the has met four times since its inception in 2003. The fourth meeting of the JWG was held here on February 14, 2006.
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 the Indian 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 remaining 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