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Thailand, India underline need to tackle terrorism
Bangkok, Oct 09: Thailand today assured India that it would not allow its territory to be misused by terrorists outfits operating in the country as Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his Thai counterpart Thaksin Shinawatara underlined the urgent need to tackle the menace of terrorism.
Bangkok, Oct 09: Thailand today assured India that it would not allow its territory to be misused by terrorists outfits operating in the country as Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his Thai counterpart Thaksin Shinawatara underlined the urgent need to tackle the menace of terrorism.
During their 20-minute "restricted" meeting, the two leaders felt the need for sharing intelligence information and cooperation in the defence sector especially training and
joint patrolling while discussing a wide array of issues including enhancing of trade ties.
Thaksin emphatically told Vajpayee that the territory of Thailand will not be allowed to be misused by terrorist organisations operating in India or by other terrorists, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha told reporters. Sinha described the meeting between the two Prime Ministers as a "restricted meeting, a meeting under four eyes". He said the issues discussed during the talks covered the widest possible range and bilateral cooperation was discussed in all areas.
With Thailand looking towards India as a future potential market for its goods, the two leaders agreed on doubling trade exchange by 2005 from the present one billion dollars to two billion dollars. They also touched on cooperation in the areas of technology, tourism and culture.
Discussing defence cooperation between the two countries, they touched on issues of training and joint patrolling. Sinha said that India has offered Thailand its defence equipment manufactured in the country.
"On the bilateral front Thailand and India are entering into a new partnership and it is the beginning of a new era in our relationship," Sinha said. The Foreign Minister said that Vajpayee had during his talks with Thaksin suggested the early finalisation of three agreements, which are currently under discussion. These are in the areas of mutual legal assistance treaty, extradition treaty and transfer of convicted offenders treaty.
Thailand is in the process of amending its 75-year-old extradition laws while on the mutual legal assistance drafts have been exchanged and an early conclusion of the issue is expected. India is still to complete its legislation on the transfer of convicted offenders treaty.
"The morning meeting was very comprehensive engagement between Thailand and India and a sincere desire came out between the two Prime Ministers to move forward in promoting ties on all fronts," Sinha said.
Asked why Thailand was wooing India, Sinha said, “We are also wooing them." This is all got to do with India's look east policy he said adding that there was a feeling among the Asean that "India has started late but it has caught up."
Thailand is geographically a springboard for India, and for Thailand with its look west policy India is an important country with which it wants to have ties, he added. Bureau Report
Thaksin emphatically told Vajpayee that the territory of Thailand will not be allowed to be misused by terrorist organisations operating in India or by other terrorists, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha told reporters. Sinha described the meeting between the two Prime Ministers as a "restricted meeting, a meeting under four eyes". He said the issues discussed during the talks covered the widest possible range and bilateral cooperation was discussed in all areas.
With Thailand looking towards India as a future potential market for its goods, the two leaders agreed on doubling trade exchange by 2005 from the present one billion dollars to two billion dollars. They also touched on cooperation in the areas of technology, tourism and culture.
Discussing defence cooperation between the two countries, they touched on issues of training and joint patrolling. Sinha said that India has offered Thailand its defence equipment manufactured in the country.
"On the bilateral front Thailand and India are entering into a new partnership and it is the beginning of a new era in our relationship," Sinha said. The Foreign Minister said that Vajpayee had during his talks with Thaksin suggested the early finalisation of three agreements, which are currently under discussion. These are in the areas of mutual legal assistance treaty, extradition treaty and transfer of convicted offenders treaty.
Thailand is in the process of amending its 75-year-old extradition laws while on the mutual legal assistance drafts have been exchanged and an early conclusion of the issue is expected. India is still to complete its legislation on the transfer of convicted offenders treaty.
"The morning meeting was very comprehensive engagement between Thailand and India and a sincere desire came out between the two Prime Ministers to move forward in promoting ties on all fronts," Sinha said.
Asked why Thailand was wooing India, Sinha said, “We are also wooing them." This is all got to do with India's look east policy he said adding that there was a feeling among the Asean that "India has started late but it has caught up."
Thailand is geographically a springboard for India, and for Thailand with its look west policy India is an important country with which it wants to have ties, he added. Bureau Report