By Neena Bhandari
Adelaide, 28.08.2003 (PTI): Australia on Thursday said there was ‘irrefutable’ proof that Pakistan was a source of terrorism and there had been support for terrorist outfits in the country for many years.
“Pakistan has been one of the sources of terrorism and the Taliban really developed out of Pakistan during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan,” Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told PTI when asked about visiting External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha’s remarks in an Australian newspaper that ‘Pakistan is the epicentre of world terrorism’. “There has been support in Pakistan for terrorist organisations over many years. The evidence there is irrefutable,” he added.
Downer said Australia was ‘very concerned’ about boarding schools and private Islamic educational institutions being used as breeding grounds for people ‘who have gone on to become fundamentalists, extremists and in some cases terrorists’.
“Since 9/11, the US and other countries have made it clear to President (Pervez) Musharraf that it is enormously important that Pakistan does something about (these institutions). We certainly feel that along the Pak-Afghan border Al Qaeda people are moving in and out. We would like Pakistan to take stronger action along that border to try to seal the border,” Downer said.
India, Australia sign counter-terrorism pact
Adelaide, 28.08.2003 (PTI): Stepping up their cooperation to fight terrorism, India and Australia on Thursday signed an agreement to work together to combat international terrorism.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by visiting External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and his Australian counterpart Alexander Downer in Adelaide.
Under the MoU, the two countries vowed to join forces in the battle against regional and global terrorism.
“The MoU will forge closer cooperation between our respective security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies. With India, we have one of our most important bilateral relations and they are moving in a strategic direction,” Downer said.
Terrorism was the main focus of the third round of the Australia-India Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue held on Thursday.
Expressing his deep sympathy with the Indian people following Monday’s car bomb blasts in Mumbai, Downer said, “This terrible event underscores the critical need for regional cooperation to fight terrorism. India has great experience in dealing with terrorism and has the knowledge to deal with terrorist organisations. We have tremendous capacity to work together.”
The two ministers also discussed the issue of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, developments in North Korea, Iraq, South and Southeast Asia, the Pacific, Solomon Islands, and the Commonwealth including, Zimbabwe and Pakistan.
Downer said the strategic convergence of Australia and India is matched by an expanding commercial partnership.
With trade at record levels and investment growing steadily in both directions, Downer emphasised Australia’s capacity and willingness to support India’s economic expansion and said, “We don’t want India to be the ’12th man in trade’,” to which Sinha quipped, “We hope to be the opening batsman soon.”
The Australian minister said India is the second largest source of migrants to Australia and Indian immigration is likely to increase. It has also become a popular destination for Indians seeking a quality education overseas, after the United States and Britain.
Sinha leaves for Melbourne in the evening to attend a community dinner hosted by Indian High Commissioner to Australia R S Rathore and meet the treasurer, the minister for communications and Information Technology and the opposition Labour leader Simon Crean. He will also hold high-level talks with Australian Premier John Howard.
We are ready to discuss Kashmir, says Sinha
Melbourne, 29.08.2003 (PTI): Observing that India’s efforts to promote friendly relations with Pakistan has met with “rebuff”, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha has said progress on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir should not hold up movement in other areas between the two countries.
“We are continuing to promote friendly relations with Pakistan, but our friendship has been met with rebuff,” Mr Sinha, who is on a four day visit to Australia, said while speaking to the Indian community here last night.
“The progress of normalisation will be a step-by-step process. We are ready to discuss Jammu and Kashmir and we are on a strong wicket, but progress on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir shouldn’t hold up progress in other areas between the two countries.
We are hoping that the people’s will in Pakistan will assert itself and prevail as common people still have a strong bond,” the minister said.
Asked if India would send troops to Iraq, Mr Sinha said, “the USA made a request to us to send a division of 15,000 or 20,000 Indian troops to Iraq”.
He said Indian troops serve under only two commands – the Indian and the United Nations.
Speaking at the dinner hosted by him, the Indian High Commissioner to Australia R.S. Rathore said, “The Indian community in the state of Victoria is highly professional and skilled ethnic community in this multicultural society. It is mutual trust that underpins our bilateral relationship”.
Talking Tough
After roping Australia into the war on terror, Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha also scores with the expats.
Continue reading on: Neena Bhandari – Diplomacy – Talking Tough
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