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“If the insurgents crossed over to Bangladesh, as being claimed by India, why BSF men could not shoot down a single insurgent?” asked Khan
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By
Ahmed Faruque Hassan, IOL Bangladesh Correspondent
DHAKA,
November 29 (IslamOnline) – Bangladesh Foreign Minister Morshed Khan
on Thursday, November 28, rejected as unfounded and malicious
India’s latest allegations about the presence of Al-Qaeda elements
and ISI in Bangladesh.
“We
can’t just wash away it… We’re committed to fighting against
terrorism bilaterally, regionally and internationally,” Khan said in
a rebuttal to the new complaints made by his Indian counterpart from
the house of parliament.
Sinha
alleged that elements of Al-Qaeda have entered into Bangladesh and the
Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka has become the nerve center of ISI
since Prime Minister Khaleda Zia took over power in October last year.
“Every
time we investigated on the basis of Indian lists, we did not find
anything,” he said, adding: “Whenever new elements come, we will
investigate – it is a continuing process. As a friend India should
keep us posted about presence of terrorists.”
He
said the Bangladesh High Commissioner in New Delhi had been asked to
find out the reasons for such allegations of India against Bangladesh.
Talking
to reporters at his office, the foreign minister, however, said New
Delhi should inform Dhaka if there is any new element in its
allegations as terrorists are enemies of both Bangladesh and India.
Questioning
the justification of the allegation of Indian insurgents crossing over
to Bangladesh, the foreign minister said that in the past year some
117 innocent Bangladeshis have been killed by BSF but no insurgents
shot.
“If
the insurgents crossed over to Bangladesh, as being claimed by India,
why BSF men could not shoot down a single insurgent?” he questioned.
Expressing
his dismay at India’s nonstop campaign over terrorists, ISI or
Al-Qaeda against Bangladesh, Khan said it must be found out whether
India resorted to this campaign for any domestic or international
compulsions there particularly before the elections in Gujarat.
Terming
India as a good neighbor of Bangladesh, Khan said: “Being close-door
neighbors, we may have some irritants or contentious issues, and those
could be resolved through mutual understanding.”
He
hoped the problem with the undemarcated 6.5-km-border between
Bangladesh and India would see a solution soon. In this
inter-dependent world, he said, Bangladesh wants to move forward along
with its neighbors.
Referring
to the E.U. parliament resolution on Bangladesh and international
media campaigns against the country, Khan blamed opposition leader
Sheikh Hasina for this smear campaign after the electoral defeat last
year.
“She
is campaigning against Bangladesh by staying in foreign soils; she
went to Brussels and after three weeks, she came up with a resolution
of E.U. parliament against Bangladesh,” he told newsmen.
Asked
if international magazines, the E.U. or Indian parliaments have been
working at the dictate of Sheikh Hasina, he retorted: “These are
hired people from media.” He would not elaborate.
About
Indian Deputy Prime Minster LK Advani’s comments against Bangladesh,
the foreign minister said Advani later clarified his remarks when he
said that his statement was just about the reports on Bangladesh.
Khan
categorically said Bangladesh is not meant for terrorists: “We will
hunt for the last terrorist on our land.”
He
said some terrorists took shelter in India in the wake of joint
operations against terror. The government is collecting information
about those terrorists and will supply India with it to bring them
back to stand trial.
“Similarly,
whenever any terrorist from India crossed over to Bangladesh, they
were handed over to police,” Khan said.
Asked
if the issues of gas export and granting transit to India are
underlying factors behind the anti-Bangladesh campaign, Khan said gas
and transit will be considered, provided it is mutually beneficial.
“Decision
on gas will be taken after discussion in parliament upholding the
interests of Bangladesh,” he told a questioner.
Asked
to comment on the concerns expressed by Amnesty International on the
arrest of British and Italian nationals, he said: “We are also
concerned that being a teacher and an architect—why would they go to
make a film?”
Khan
hoped that the matter would be cleared very soon on completion of
investigation into their activities in Bangladesh. “If they did not
violate the law of the land, after investigation they will be released
through usual process.”
Earlier
Thursday, the Bangladesh Foreign Secretary said that the pattern of
“unfortunate comments” hurled against Bangladesh by Indian leaders
certainly do not contribute to create a good environment between the
two neighbors.
“We
express our serious disappointment and surprise” over Indian
External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha’s statement in Indian
Parliament on Wednesday,” Shamser Mobin Chowdhury told reporters.
“Certainly,
this unfortunate statement runs counter to the spirit of good
neighborly relations,” Chowdhury said, adding: “We are committed
to maintaining normal and friendly relations with India and address
bilateral and regional issues through diplomatic channels.”
He
reaffirmed Dhaka’s position of not allowing any insurgency or
terrorist activities against any country by using the soil of
Bangladesh.
Asked
to comment on the Indian allegation that the Pakistan High Commission
in Dhaka has become a hub of ISI, Chowdhury said he is not aware of it
and noted that the allegation of this nature needs to be backed up by
credible evidence.
To
a question about Indian claim that it has got specific evidence of ISI
and Al-Qaeda in Bangladesh, he said if it is so India can share this
evidence with the country concerned.
Asked
if there is any need of involving a third independent party to verify
the allegations of ISI and Al-Qaeda activities in Bangladesh, the
foreign secretary said Bangladesh and India are sovereign nations
maintaining relations for more than 30 years and capable of resolving
their differences without any outside help.
He
added, however, that the latest Indian allegation needs an in-depth
study and analysis of the factors behind it – whether it is due to
Indian domestic politics prior to election or the seriousness of
Indo-Pak relation that prompts harsh anti-Bangladesh campaign.
On
whether gas or transit were the underlying factors, Chowdhury said if
there are differences on export of gas or transit, there are normal
ways to answer. There are channels which remain open to discuss
matters relating to trade or gas, he observed.
About
tension along the Indo-Bangladesh border, particularly at Koikhali
point in Satkhira, he said he does not see any reason of concern. The
prevailing disputes could be resolved at the BDR-BSF meetings, he
added.
Asked
about opposition leader Sheikh Hasina’s remarks about human rights
violations and repression of minorities in the country, he said that
“a measure of responsibility” is expected from political party
leaders when they speak outside the country.
India
on Wednesday renewed charges that Al-Qaeda extremists had taken
shelter in Bangladesh, but said the neighboring country had agreed to
act. "Some Al-Qaeda elements have taken shelter in
Bangladesh," Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha told
parliament.
"Though
foreign media has also reported several such instances, our own
sources have also confirmed many of these reports," he said,
quoted by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The
foreign minister charged that arch-rival Pakistan was active in
Bangladesh and that the Pakistani High Commission in Dhaka had become
a "nerve center" for activities of Pakistan’s
Inter-Services Intelligence agency.
Sinha
said a number of Islamic seminaries, or madrassas, had sprung up along
the Bangladeshi border with India and that rebels fighting in the
myriad insurgencies in India’s northeast had established training
camps in Bangladesh.
He
said that after India expressed its "strong concern,"
Bangladesh gave assurance it would not allow its territory to be used
for anti-Indian activities.
"The
Bangladesh Foreign Minister, Morshed Khan, intimated that instructions
have been issued not to allow presence of Indian insurgents or their
free movement across the border," Sinha said.
