NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Rediff Shopping

Shop & gift from thousands of products!   Books     Music       Apparel   Jewellery   Flowers   More..      Safe Shopping

France okays joint working group on terrorism

Krzytof de Breza in Paris

Following the footsteps of the United States, France has agreed to co-operate extensively with India in countering terrorism, especially international terrorism. The co-operation will be in various forms, including exchange and training of personnel, besides transfer of technology.

As the first step, France has recently communicated to the Indian authorities its agreement to the formation of a proposed joint working group on terrorism. In view of rapidly growing bilateral Indo-French relations, India had mooted the idea quite some time back. It reiterated the proposal during the visit of Union Home Minister Lal Kishan Advani to France in May.

At that time, France had sought some time before making a commitment. A final decision has now been taken and cleared by the concerned ministries, especially the ministere des affaires etrangeres (French foreign affairs ministry). It was formally conveyed during the recently concluded Indo-French high-level security dialogue.

Diplomatic sources in Paris told rediff.com that the way has now been cleared for the formation of the JWG and the process is expected to pick up pace in early September (once the French government returns from its summer vacation). The working group is expected to hold its inaugural meeting a few weeks later.

It will examine all the possibilities for co-operation between the two sides in fighting international terrorism.

"This could take various forms and shapes. First of all, it will mean greater interaction and co-operation between the various agencies charged with fighting terrorism in the two countries. This co-operation could be in the form of training and exchange of manpower and also meetings between officials from the agencies to co-ordinate their anti-terrorism strategies," highly placed diplomatic sources told rediff.com.

Under this scheme, French Interior Ministry forces, experts in counter terrorism operations, may train Indian anti-terrorism units.

India is also reportedly keen on acquiring some advanced anti-terrorism equipment to arm its own agents. France is an acknowledged leader in the field of high-tech gadgetry for countering terrorist activities.

Though the issue of transfer of equipment and technology was discussed during the meeting between Advani and his French counterpart, Jean Pierre Chevenement in May, the details of this transfer will be discussed at the JWG meetings.

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report