Search the Internet          Tips

Target supporters of terror too: India, Japan

Devidas Gupta in Tokyo

India and Japan demanded on Monday that the fight against global terrorism be "comprehensive and sustained" to also target those who provide support and safe haven to terrorists, even as they decided to hold a comprehensive bilateral security dialogue annually that would include cooperation in counter-terrorism.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his Japanese counterpart, Junichiro Koizumi, also pledged to reduce impediments to bilateral trade and investments to strengthen economic ties.

A joint declaration issued after their talks said the two leaders firmly maintained that terrorism could not be justified "wherever, whenever and for whatever reason" and condemned it in any form.

"The fight against global terrorism has to be comprehensive and sustained, with the objective of total elimination of terrorism in all regions," the eleven-page declaration said, apparently reflecting India's concern over cross-border terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir.

The two leaders gave the go-ahead for the annual security dialogue after expressing satisfaction over the successful outcome of this exercise and bilateral military-to-military consultations held in last July.

This dialogue will also cover disarmament and non-proliferation.

On the developments in Afghanistan, the declaration said the post-Taliban government in the country should be broad-based, respect international law and not be allowed to export terrorism.

The two sides agreed to cooperate in rehabilitation and reconstruction of the war-torn nation.

The declaration emphasised the need for constructive efforts on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.

Japan took note of India's efforts to develop a national consensus on signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

The declaration called for an immediate commencement of negotiations on a treaty banning the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons.

The two countries pledged to launch early talks on a regional cooperation agreement on anti-piracy and search and rescue operations.

The two leaders acknowledged broad and deepened economic ties as an essential underpinning to strengthen bilateral ties.

They shared the view that India's continuing economic reforms, Japan's recovery through structural reforms and the existing complementarities between the two economies would provide a solid foundation for further enhancing economic ties.

It was felt that "unbounded opportunities" existed, specially in the area of information and communication technology.

Pledging to work together for an early realisation of United Nations reforms, the two leaders shared the belief that new permanent membership should include both developing and developed countries.

Japan agreed to cooperate with India for an early adoption of a comprehensive convention on international terrorism proposed by New Delhi, which is currently under discussions at the UN.

Both the countries shared a strong commitment for an open and non-discriminatory rule-based multilateral trading system.

In an effort to strengthen bilateral links in culture and education, the declaration said India would set up a cultural centre in Tokyo.

PTI

Tell us what you think of this report