Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has held any talks/proposes to engage with the Government of Bangladesh regarding anti-India activities and growing extremist attacks in that country; and
(b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) & (b) Government of India has extensive engagements with Government of Bangladesh under various bilateral mechanisms like the Joint Consultative Commission, Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary-level talks, Joint Working Group on Security and Border Management, Joint Task Forces on Human Trafficking, Fake Currency Notes etc. All issues of relevance and importance are raised at these bilateral talks, including those relating to our security. A number of security related agreements - Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, Transfer of Sentenced Persons, Combating International Terrorism, Organised Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking have been signed and ratified.
During our bilateral interactions, Government of Bangladesh has conveyed that it will not allow any anti-India activities from its soil and has followed zero tolerance policy to extremist and terrorist elements in Bangladesh. Security related issues, including the activities of the Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs), their camps/hideouts, measures to check smuggling of arms/ammunitions and fake currency notes, have also been discussed during our interactions with Bangladesh.
India and Bangladesh have also put in place mechanisms, including a Coordinated Border Management Plan signed in July 2011, to address issues arising from illegal border crossings and incidents on the border and to enhance cooperation between the border guarding forces of the two countries. The two sides have been cooperating in identifying vulnerable patches along the border and taking appropriate steps to prevent illegal activities, including illegal movement across the border. Discussion under the above mentioned forums will continue with a view to safeguarding the security interests of both the countries.