India, Bangladesh agree not to allow each others territories for insurgent activities

Reflecting the improved relationship between the caretaker regime in Bagladesh and the Indian establishment, the Eighth Home Secretary-level talks between the two countries ended on a positive note today with both expressing satisfaction over the two-day discussions held in New Delhi.

By Sanjay Kumar

New Delhi, Aug.3 : Reflecting the improved relationship between the caretaker regime in Bagladesh and the Indian establishment, the Eighth Home Secretary-level talks between the two countries ended on a positive note today with both expressing satisfaction over the two-day discussions held in New Delhi.

Both countries decided to set up an "institutional mechanism for enhanced cooperation " to deal with cross-border terrorism, and stressed that "the use of the territory of either country would not be allowed for terrorist and criminal activities against the other country and that sustained cooperation and information sharing would benefit both the countries".

Indian Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta termed this as a "fundamental change and important movement".

"We agreed that we will not allow each other's territories to be used by the insurgent and terrorist groups against any other", said Mohammed Abdul Karim, Bangladesh Home Secretary.

In a joint press communiqu� issued after the talks, both sides reiterated their "commitment" to widen the cooperation and "address issues of concern in a spirit of mutual understanding".

Both sides agreed to initiate swift action on information received about groups and elements and other fugitives from the law of either country taking shelter in the other country.

The joint statement further said that the Indian side has requested for an early and positive response on its long pending request to permit construction of a fence within the 150 yards of the border to fill the gaps in about 250 places, which would help in effective border management and checking the movement of criminal elements and illegal migrants.

On the issue of border firing and the death of unarmed civilians during such firings, both sides expressed satisfaction over the improved situation along the border in recent months and agreed to take steps to further improve the situation.

India thanked Bangladesh for granting of "a floating Border Outposts to Dhubri (Assam) through Bangladesh".

Both sides also agreed to step up the riverine patrolling.

India and Bangladesh expressed the need for initiating cooperation in the field of capacity buiding of police forces.

The talks ended with both sides agreeing to carry forward the bilateral relationship in a significant and meaningful manner.

The visiting Bangladeshi delegation called on Home Minister Shivraj Patil and briefed him about the talks. They will visit the National Police Academy at Hyderabad before it returns to Dhaka.

The seventh round was held at Dhaka in August last year.

ANI