India for joint fight against terror: Pranab Mukherjee

Major Events Vol. 3 Issue No. 35

September 16-30, 2007

India for joint fight against terror: Pranab Mukherjee

External Affairs Minister terms terrorism as the “biggest stumbling block” in the path of development in South Asia.

Describing terrorism as the “biggest stumbling block” in the path of development in South Asia, India pitched for a joint fight against the scourge and noted that SAARC Home Ministers will meet to devise ways to tackle it. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the time had come for SAARC member countries to have a policy of “zero tolerance” towards terrorism to eliminate the menace.

In a speech on the theme ‘SAARC: Accelerating cooperation through connectivity’, he stressed on the need for enhanced cooperation and connectivity among the SAARC nations to help realise the potential of the region.

There will be a meeting of Home Ministers which would address regional security concerns, such as transnational crimes, terrorism, narcotics and psychotropic substances, Mr. Mukherjee said.

Meanwhile, in the backdrop of reports that a Hyderabad blasts suspect has been held in Dhaka, India asked Bangladesh to cooperate in tackling terrorism emanating from there. Sidestepping questions about the reported arrest of Mohd Sharifuddin in Dhaka, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Bangladesh has been told about terrorists operating in its territory, including at a recent meeting of Home Secretaries.

“During the Home Secretary level meeting we suggested to them and we have given some particulars as we normally give to them about those who are indulging in all sorts of activities like insurgency and other terrorist activity,” the Minister stated while interacting with media persons.

“We seek their cooperation,” Mr. Mukherjee said. He was responding when asked whether India has taken up with Bangladesh the issue of reported arrest of Sharifuddin, who is suspected to have a key role in the August 25 Hyderabad blasts.

According to intelligence inputs from across the border, Bangladesh Police has picked up Sharifuddin alias Abu Hamza, a suspected operative of Bangladesh-based Harkat-ul-Jehad-e- Islami (HUJI) operative.

Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta had said that information was being gathered on the reported arrest. Sharrifuddin is believed to have undertaken the task as per the orders of HUJI commander Abdul Shahid Mohammed alias “Bilal”, the main accused in the twin blasts in Hyderabad which left at least 40 people dead on August 25.

On the other hand, India sees no perceptible change as yet on the ground in Bangladesh though during the last Home Secretary level meet between India and Bangladesh, held in the first week of last month, the Government of Bangladesh softened its attitude regarding the presence of the militants active in the North-East and other anti-India forces in Bangladesh soil. Bangladesh assured to allow India to bring in floating border outposts to Assam for better patrolling of the riverine international border.

Observing this marked departure Bangladesh Government, which had earlier denied the presence of Indian militant leaders in Bangladesh, Government of India submitted lists of Indian ultra leaders in Bangladesh and their camps. But now the Centre is unhappy over the fact that so far no action has been seen on the ground. A section has already termed the assurance as a mere eyewash. According to the sources in the Union Home Ministry, no effort has yet been made by the Government of Bangladesh to make the stay of Indian militant leaders in that country uncomfortable notwithstanding specific information about the whereabouts of militants. The list submitted to Bangladesh Government was prepared on the basis of intelligence inputs and revelations by the arrested militants. Despite being an INTERPOL member country Bangladesh never acted on the INTERPOLE alerts and despite repeated requests by India to evict militant groups from its territory.

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