Pranab appeals for sincere action against terrorism

Dhaka, Feb.9, (ANI): External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said that hurdles in the global war against terrorism are created by an unwillingness or a lack of sincerity on part of countries.

"There is no conflict between the regional architecture and within the regional architecture, the bilateral architecture. What is more important is the sincerity to fight against the menace of terrorism," Mukherjee said.

Demanding a framework to fight terror, he said, "Any architecture or framework does not stand in the way of fighting against terrorism."

Mukherjee, who was on a day-long visit to Dhaka, addressed the media along with his Bangladesh counterpart Dipu Moni.

He also discussed the possibility of setting up a regional taskforce to fight terror.

Mukherjee said an area of concern for India and Bangladesh is to combat both extremism and terrorism in the region.

"Closer cooperation on security issues is the need of the hour. We should move to address such issues with the understanding that both our countries will benefit in the long run," he said.

Describing his discussions with his Bangladeshi counterpart as 'fruitful', Mukherjee said that the entire gamut of bilateral ties was reviewed. It included issues related to security, border management, strengthening connectivity, promoting trade and investment and people to people contacts.

"Our relations have witnessed an upward swing on the recent past. We, on our part, have tried to sustain this engagement by taking several important steps, including unilateral gestures to Bangladesh," he added.

"Today, we have also signed two agreements- one on bilateral trade and the other on bilateral investment promotions and protection. These would further strengthen the framework for trade and investment between both countries," he further said.

During her address, Moni said, she shared the idea of a South Asian Task Force to combat terrorism and suggested the possibility of both countries joining hands in this endeavour.

"We will be having dialogue with our regional neighbours and will find out modalities on how best we can cooperate in combating terrorism," she said.

On the issue of northeast insurgency, Moni said she would collect concrete information regarding this, and act on it.

On the exchange of fire at the Indo-Bangladesh border, Mukherjee said both sides have agreed to take further action on this.

He said the Directors General of the Border Security Force (BSF) and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) would meet and work out a mechanism through which unpleasant and unnecessary action could be avoided.

Mukherjee also called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Home Minister Sahara Khatun. (ANI)