Cross-border terror on agenda at talks between India,Tajikistan

With Afghanistan in focus,India and Tajikistan Monday discussed newer ways to cooperate on security issues and to counter cross-border terrorism

With Afghanistan in focus,India and Tajikistan Monday discussed newer ways to cooperate on security issues and to counter cross-border terrorism. Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon described their one-on-one talks as productive followed by delegation-level talks,which the two sides said were constructive.

Ansari apprised Rahmon of Indias Connect Central Asia policy,under which it plans to develop political relations with countries of central Asia through regular visits by forging strategic and trade partnerships. China and Russia dominate the region but India has scaled up its engagement in recent years.

Ansari and Rahmon said their cooperation has greater potential and both agreed to work to realize it. Describing Rahmons visit to India in September 2012 as very successful,Ansari said his visit would carry the dialogue further.

The two leaders exchanged views on ways to maintain regional peace and security while keeping the focus on Afghanistan. They said nations in the region and the international community should strengthen Afghanistans capacity to maintain peace,stability and prosperity of the Afghan people. They agreed to strengthen cooperation in multilateral organisations.

Welcoming Tajikistan into the WTO fold,Ansari said the two countries would strengthen relations in energy,IT,health and education sectors and in the establishment of small and micro industries in Tajikistan. Improving connectivity between New Delhi and Dushanbe and a quick visa regime for businessmen were among the points emphasized in the talks between India and Tajikistan with both countries recognizing that private sector can take mutual relations forward.

Secretary East Sanjay Singh and Joint secretary Eurasia Ajay Bisaria said since the visit of the Tajikistan president to India in 2012,tangible progress has been made in the work related to setting up of an IT centre,an entrepreneur development centre and a medical centre,besides India doing its bit to get Dushanbe to join the WTO.