India on Friday said that agreements have been made with Bangladesh regarding border fencing, stating that securing the border is crucial for curbing crime and criminal incidents.
During the Ministry of External Affairs’ (MEA) weekly briefing in New Delhi, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stressed that the aim is to tackle issues such as human smuggling, cattle smuggling, and other illegal activities, working towards a “crime-free” border.“Our understanding is that Bangladesh will approach this positively and complement our efforts. We aim to create a crime-free border by addressing issues like human smuggling, cattle smuggling, and other criminal activities,” the MEA spokesperson told the media.
Jaiswal’s remarks on border fencing came in the wake of the recent stabbing of Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, allegedly carried out by a man said to be a Bangladesh national who was staying in India illegally.
The incident, which took place during an attempted burglary at Khan’s private residence in Bandra on January 16, has sparked discussions on illegal immigration, especially from Bangladesh. The attack on the actor has brought attention to security concerns and the importance of tackling illegal immigration to prevent such incidents.
Jibe At Pakistan Over Cross-Border Terrorism
In response to a statement from Pakistan’s ISPR, which accused India of politicising its army, the the MEA spokesperson reiterated that the world is fully aware of the origins of cross-border terrorism.
“The whole world knows who is promoting terrorism. In India, when we have terror-related attacks, we all understand the genesis and root of cross-border terrorism,” Jaiswal stated.
The statement follows the Indian Army’s comments on the terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir, which have been linked to Pakistan.
Jaiswal also said that making claims of politicisation is irrelevant. “So in this context, when the whole world knows who is the progenitor of cross-border terrorism, to say that we are trying to politicise something, etc., is totally immaterial,” he added.
He further called on Pakistan to take concrete steps to stop cross-border terrorism, stating that everyone is aware of the countries and individuals responsible for promoting such violence.
On Foreign Secretary’s Upcoming China Visit
Regarding the upcoming visit of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to China on January 26 and 27, Jaiswal said that Misri will meet with China’s Vice Minister, and discussions will cover all areas of bilateral interest between the two countries.“This meeting flows from the understanding that the leaders reached in Kazan, and subsequent to that, we’ve had meetings at the special representatives level, and we’ve had foreign minister-level meetings as well. We will get a readout of what was discussed once the discussions happen. But all issues of mutual interest will be discussed,” Jaiswal said.
