Sharing concern over terror threats of which both have been victims, India and the UK on Thursday decided to convene a meeting of their experts to devise mechanism for protection of their critical national infrastructure, including mass transit systems.
The decision was taken at the talks between Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee and his British counterpart Margaret Beckett in New Delhi, which prominently covered issues like terrorism, trade and investment and climate.
"We have strong cooperation on international issues, with both of us uniting on the need to face terrorism with resolve and without equivocation," Mukherjee said at a joint press conference with Beckett after their hour-long talks.
He said the two sides discussed strengthening cooperation in counter-terrorism and "agreed to a meeting of our experts in the area of protecting critical national infrastructure such as mass transit systems and other assets."
The decision was taken in the backdrop of similar terror attacks on railway systems in Mumbai and London over the last one year.
During the meeting between Mukherjee and Beckett, the Indian side is believed to have shared evidence regarding Pakistani involvement in the July 11 Mumbai train bombings, which killed nearly 200 people and injured about 800.
Beckett said both India and the UK have seen the "tragic" incidents of terror attacks on their mass transit systems and require to share experience to enable them to protect these.
To a question about perceived "double standards" in the international community's approach to fight against terrorism particularly in relation to Pakistan, Mukherjee said all aspects of the scourge were discussed during his meeting with Beckett but any country or specific issues did not figure in the parleys.
Describing terrorism as the biggest threat in post-Cold war era, he said terrorist activities are not confined to any territorial limits and the entire world community should combat it collectively.
Beckett said terrorists were interested only in violence and it was important for the world community to come together to fight it.
The decision to convene the meeting of experts is part of stepped up anti-terror cooperation set in motion by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his British counterpart Tony Blair after their meeting in London last month.
Dr Singh and Blair had decided on a new package of measures to counter terrorism posing a major challenge to both the countries.
"We greatly appreciate the UK's commitment to fight terrorism wherever it appears and the banning of terrorist groups operating against India," Mukherjee said, addressing his first press conference as external affairs minister.
Noting that India was a growing power with a strong economy, Beckett said the countries were important players at the international stage.
Mukherjee and Beckett also discussed developments in South Asia.
On Afghanistan, particularly, they shared their perspectives, with an emphasis that stabilisation must be brought about in the war-ravaged country and terrorism defeated in the region.
They also discussed the trade and investment relations between India and the UK and explored ways in which these could be enhanced.
"Our economic relationship has been transformed dramatically. Both trade and investment have witnessed significant increases and India has emerged as the third largest investor in the UK," Mukherjee said.
He said India would encourage the British business to look more closely at investment and trade opportunities with India.
"We think there is great potential here," he added.
Beckett said her government would encourage the private sector of UK to explore opportunities for business in India, including in the infrastructure sector which was opened to foreign investment recently.
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