Govt briefs CPM on foreign policy

The Union Government today briefed the CPIM about the situation in the neighbourhood, especially its concern over the situation in Bangladesh.

CPIM general secretary Prakash Karat, who was accompanied by Politburo member Sitaram Yechury, told the reporters after the meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, which stretched for about two hours, that the Government had expressed concern over the developing situation in Bangladesh where the major 14-party alliance, led by Awami League, had decided to boycott the upcoming general elections.

The situation in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bhutan also came up for discussion during the meeting.

The party leaders were briefed about Mukherjee8217;s forthcoming visit to Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Mukherjee will call on Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and meet Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mohd Kasuri, during his visit to Islamabad on January 13 to invite the leaders to attend the SAARC, hosted by India. The Government had, earlier this week, briefed the the BJP on the same foreign policy issues.