Bangladesh proposes forming task force to fight terror

Sagar Kulkarni

Dhaka, Feb 9 (PTI) Bangladesh Monday proposed setting up
of a regional task force to fight terror but received a
lukewarm response from India which made it clear that such a
framework alone was not enough and wanted "sincerity" shown to
fight the menace.

The proposal was mooted by Bangladesh Foreign Minister
Dipu Moni during talks with India's External Affairs Minister
Pranab Mukherjee who is on a day-long visit here, the first
high-level political contact since the Sheikh Hasina
government assumed office on January six.

Dhaka also assured New Delhi that Bangladesh soil will
not be allowed to be used for to harm the interests of any
country. India has on several occasions conveyed its concerns
to Dhaka over north-eastern insurgents operating from
Bangladesh.

"So far as the concept of regional task force to fight
terrorism is concerned, already certain regional and
international mechanisms exist. All of us are part of UN
Security Council resolution....to ban terrorist
organisations," Mukherjee said said at a joint press
conference with Moni.

He said the proposal was discussed during his talks.
"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 was responding to a question on how
effective the regional framework can be when India is
blaming Pakistan for the Mumbai terror attacks.

"Architecture or framework does not stand in the way
of fighting against terrorism," he said.

"But if there is inability, incapability or
unwillingness to tackle the problem and fight against
terrorism as a global issue, then the problem comes,"
Mukherjee, who held separate meetings with Moni and Home
Minister Sahaara Khatun, said.

Mukherjee said an area of concern for India and
Bangladesh is to combat the growing menace of 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.

Moni said during her meeting with Mukherjee she
shared the idea of a South Asian Task Force to combat
terrorism and explored the possibilities of both the countries
joining hands in the endeavour.

On the issue of north-east insurgency, Moni said she
would reiterate the Bangladesh government's firm stand against
"letting anyone, whoever it is from whichever country, having
whatever links with anyone to use our territory to harm any
one in the region or anywhere else."

"If we have concrete information we would be vigilant
about this and if they have any information regarding this,
we will act on it," the Bangladesh Foreign Minister said.
PTI SKU
SAK