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| Zia (top), Singh |
New Delhi, Oct. 29: Begum Khaleda Zia today lauded Manmohan Singh’s initiatives on trade and power for Bangladesh while promising that her country’s territory would never be used for anti-India activities.
The commitments from the known India-baiter, made at a meeting between the two leaders, could count as one of Singh’s key foreign policy successes. Zia is on a four-day visit to India at the Prime Minister’s invitation.
Many in the Indian establishment believe Zia’s chances of coming to power after next year’s elections are bright. “Zia was very appreciative of the initiatives taken by the Prime Minister, including liberalisation of trade and efforts to provide power,” an external affairs ministry spokesperson said after the meeting that lasted half an hour and was followed by a lunch hosted by Singh.
Both leaders flagged terror as a big concern and agreed to continue co-operation on fighting insurgent groups.
Singh told the Bangladesh Opposition leader that “India was willing to discuss all issues of importance”. Zia, in turn, expressed satisfaction at the manner in which India was tackling matters related to the Tipaimukh Dam and border issues, the spokesperson said.
Zia and her Bangladesh Nationalist Party have been at the forefront of protests against the dam, planned on Manipur’s Barak river, saying the project will reduce water for Bangladeshi farmers.
But her comments today were seen as a softening of approach on the dam and other issues over which she has criticised India in the past.
“It is sign of a deeper engagement with the Bangladeshi political spectrum,” said a source, indicating New Delhi had realised it could not be seen in Bangladesh as a neighbour more comfortable with Sheikh Hasina as Prime Minister.
Singh has repeatedly spoken of deepening the engagement with Dhaka, including dialogues with not only the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League but also with other parties.
As part of this process, Singh had hosted former President H.M. Ershad, who heads the influential Jatiya Party, in August.
Zia met President Pranab Mukherjee and Sushma Swaraj yesterday.
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