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India, US to jointly fight terrorism: Fernandes

Asserting there will be no pullback of troops from the India-Pakistan border till there was proof on ground that Islamabad was putting an end to cross-border terrorism, Defence Minister George Fernandes on Wednesday said that Washington and New Delhi had vowed to step-up their cooperation in jointly combating terrorism.

Describing his six-day visit to the US as 'very positive and productive', the defence minister said on his return to New Delhi that along with putting an end to the cross-border terrorism, Pakistani forces should also cease border shelling.

Saying that though Washington expressed concern over the border build up, Fernandes said the issue of troops withdrawal from this side of the border did not figure during his extensive talks with the top Bush administration officials.

Emphasising that the agreement on 'Bilateral General Security and Military Information' signed with the United States was an important initiative, he said this could lead to sharing of vital information on security, terrorism and investigations, which will be kept confidential.

"It is clear from the beginning that unless they (Pakistan) stop infiltration and border shelling, we will not move back," he said.

To a question whether New Delhi trusted Islamabad to its promises to stop cross-border terrorism, and handing over of wanted criminals and terrorists to New Delhi, the defence minister said India had a bad experience in trusting Pakistan.

However, he added, "You have to take a decision according to situations and today's situation demands improvement before any step was taken next regarding Indo-Pak relation."

Fernandes, who met US Vice President Dick Cheney, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, said Washington and New Delhi agreed for moving jointly on military and security issue adding that there would be 'positive results from this'.

Asked about lifting of post-Pokhran sanctions against India, the defence minister said as far as defence cooperation was concerned, it had been a 'very productive visit'.

"The defence cooperation between the two countries would now be at much higher lever than ever before," he said.

Fernandes, during media interactions, had indicated Washington had lifted its sanctions on export of engines and other equipment for Light Combat Aircraft and also hinted that US firms would bid for high-technology defence projects like anti-infiltration sensors for placements along the border and LoC.

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