NEW DELHI, June 17 ? India has raised the issue of militants of the North-East including the outlawed ULFA enjoying a free run of the country with the visiting Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, M Morshed Khan, only to be assured again that the country would not allow forces inimical to India to misuse its soil. The issue figured during a luncheon meeting between Morshed Khan and the Indian External Affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh here this afternoon that was also attended by officials of both the countries including Foreign Secretary, Chokila Iyer and High Commissioner of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Foreign Minister later called on the National Security Adviser, Brajesh Mishra, Opposition leader, Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee later in the evening.
The core area of interest from the point of view of North-Eastern region (NER) about the transit rights for goods through Bangladesh is unlikely to be addressed in detail, though the External Affairs Minister made a passing reference today. The issue relating to trade and commerce that also covers the issue of transit rights are handled in trade talks, the MEA spokesperson, Nirupama Rao clarified. Briefing newsmen, she said that talks were held in a cordial atmosphere and a whole gamut of issues were discussed and reviewed. This is the first ever high-level visit by any Bangladesh minister after the new government of Prime Minister, Khaleda Zia took over eight months ago. Bangladesh was made aware about the issue of North-East based militants taking shelter in Bangladesh. And the Bangladesh government has assured to do everything to ensure that soil of the country are not misused by elements inimical to India,? Smt Rao said.
The spokesperson, however said that there was no complaint from Bangladesh side about insurgents from their side taking shelter in India. It is the intention of both the governments not to allow militant leaders to misuse the soil. Both sides will do their level best to police the border, she said. The issue of demarcation of the 6.5 km of the undemarcated border along the India-Bangladesh border was also discussed. The MEA spokesperson said that it was more of a procedural difficulty. Both sides have expressed their determination to come to a satisfactory resolution of the problem, she said. The Bangladesh Foreign Minister?s visit came at a crucial time, when there is a resurgence of attacks on Hindus in the country. The reported attacks have raised the hackles of VHP and Bajrang Dal which have been pressurising the Centre to act.
With the memories of Pyrdiwah incidents fresh in minds, the NDA government is likely to actively pursue the matter. On checking the free movement of the North-East based militants in Bangladesh, India admittedly has not been able to achieve much of a success, with even the friendly Sheikh Hasina government unable to crack down on ULFA and NDFB leaders holed up in the country. ULFA?s secret bank accounts frozen in early 90s were defrozen and the outfit continues to operate various business concerns in the country. With the coming to power of Zia?s government, alarm bells were set ringing as the militant outfits were supposed to step up their activities given the reported pro-militant stand of the ruling party. The visit by the Foreign Minister would give New Delhi the first chance to gauge the mood of Zia government that would have a serious bearing on the North-East.