PM to discuss N-deal, terror in Europe

NEW DELHI: Prime minister Manmohan Singh, who is embarking on a six-day visit to England and Finland on Monday, will take up terrorism, the Nuclear Suppliers Group’s (NSG) backing for the Indo-US nuclear deal and some important economic issues during his engagements.

Mr Singh is travelling to London for a bilateral visit and to Helsinki for the 4th India-European Union (EU) summit. Some pacts are likely to be inked during the PM’s visit.

In the light of recent evidence that the ISI and Pakistan-based terror outfits were behind the July 11 Mumbai blasts, Mr Singh will highlight India’s concerns about continuing cross-border terrorism when he holds talks with the leadership of Britain and the EU.

The Mumbai police last week said their probe into the serial train blasts had revealed the involvement of ISI and the Lashker-e-Taiba terror outfit based in Pakistan. India has already shared evidence about the probe into the blasts with the US, and New Delhi, which has been seeking a comprehensive and global fight against terrorism, will discuss efforts to combat the menace with both London and EU.

“We will bring them up to date with India’s experience as a victim of terrorism,” foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon said when asked whether the evidence collected in the Mumbai blasts would be brought to the notice of Britain and EU.

Mr Singh is also expected to seek support of the 25-nation EU for the Indo-US civil nuclear deal. The EU has so far failed to arrive at a common position on the issue, with many of its members backing the deal but some still harbouring reservations.

India has been discussing the issue individually with member countries, several of whom are in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) that is responsible for regulating international nuclear commerce. Lobbying for the EU’s support now will be significant as the 45-member NSG will meet in Vienna later this month and the Indo-US nuclear deal is expected to figure there.

The nuclear agreement is required to be endorsed through consensus by the NSG, which will have to change its guidelines to allow the international community to have civil nuclear co-operation with India.

In London, Singh will hold talks with prime minister Tony Blair. Besides terrorism, other issues expected to figure in the discussions are clean energy and scientific research and development.

The prime minister, accompanied by commerce minister Kamal Nath and minister of state for external affairs Anand Sharma, will address the India-UK Investment Summit which is expected to be attended by over 100 CEOs.

Economic and trade relations between the two countries have been growing and Britain is now India’s fourth-largest trading partner and the largest in Europe.