DHAKA: India believes in peaceful co-existence and does not interfere in the internal matters of its neighbouring countries, Indian Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said on Sunday.

"We believe in peaceful co-existence with our neighbours. We do not interfere in any internal matter of our neighbouring countries in any way," Shinde said at a joint press conference with Bangladesh Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir.

Shinde made the statement, in response to a Bangladeshi journalist’s quest of what role India would play in the present political crisis in the neighbouring country.

In response, Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir said "there is no political crisis in Bangladesh. Election would be held in time and we are preparing for that."

Both the ministers came here for the inauguration of an Integrated Check Post (ICP) at the Indo-Bangla border at Akhaura.

To another question, Alamgir said there was no camp of Indian insurgents on Bangladeshi soil.

"Whenever we apprehended any insurgent, we had handed them over to India. So far my knowledge goes, there is no camp in Bangladesh side," Alamgir said.

"ULFA leader Anup Chetia was caught in Bangladesh for entering illegally and punished by court accordingly. After his term was over, he appealed to the Supreme Court for staying in Bangladesh. After the Supreme Court verdict, appropriate actions would be taken," he said.

Alamgir said, India and Bangladesh had signed an extradition treaty and Chetia would be handed over to India after the court case is over.

He also said that an ICP would be built at Akhaura in Bangladesh side to facilitate border trade and smooth movement of passengers of the two countries.

Source: business-standard.com

BDST: 1915 HRS, NOV 17, 2013
SR/MMA/JCK