Uzbekistan seeks India's help to fight terrorism

TASHKENT, JULY 16. Uzbekistan and other central Asian republics have sought India's help in tackling the problems of fundamentalism and religious extremism and also in eradicating drugs and narcotics trafficking.

Top specialists of the Institute of Strategic and Regional Studies of Uzbekistan, which functions directly under the President, Mr. Islam Karimov, said ``India is quite experienced in handling fundamentalism and religious extremism, and since we are faced with almost identical problems, we will be glad to have the benefit of this knowledge.''

Mr. Muhamed M. Yukbov, head of the department of regional studies and his two colleagues, Mr. Abdulla Zia Abdullaev, strategic expert and Mr. Isadjanov, Secretary, scientific board, suggested that India, Uzbekistan and other countries of the region should co-operate and evolve a mechanism to fight fundamentalism and religious extremism.

Besides bilateral co-operation and coordination among the agencies fighting fundamentalists, international organisations like the United Nations should exchange information regarding activities of extremist outfits, particularly in Afghanistan, they said.

Mr. Yukbov and his colleagues also talked of a nexus between Pakistan, the Taliban and militant organisations in Afghanistan and deplored the reported threat of the deputy chief of internal affairs of Afghanistan that they would support Islamic organisations in Uzbekistan.

They urged the ruling dispensation in Pakistan to use its influence and take positive steps ``to ease the situation in Afghanistan.''

On drugs and narcotic trafficking, Mr. Yakubov said Uzbekistan as well as other countries of the region had been concerned at this hazard.

``We also need the help of the international community. We have taken stringent steps to curb this menace. Only last year, custom officials and border police of our country, apprehended two tonnes of drugs'', he said.

- PTI

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Section  : International
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