Consider financial ties with Pakistan, resolve Teesta water sharing situation: Parliamentary panel to govt

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs has urged the Centre to think about establishing financial ties with Pakistan, regardless of the diplomatic deep-freeze in bilateral relations. It additionally urged the federal government to resolve the Teesta water sharing situation with Bangladesh and lift the difficulty of repatriation of unlawful migrants from Myanmar.

“Despite the diplomatic freeze, the committee has urged the Centre to think about the institution of financial ties with Pakistan if they arrive ahead and work in the direction of broader people-to-people contacts in view of the cultural commonalities and civilizational linkages between our two international locations and no feeling of enmity amongst residents of each the international locations,” the standing committee stated in its report. The report on India’s Neighbourhood First coverage was tabled in each homes of Parliament on Tuesday.

The chairperson of the committee is PP Chaudhary from the BJP whereas members embrace former Home Minister P Chidambaram of the Congress, Abhishek Banerjee of the TMC, BJP MP Swapan Dasgutpa and 27 different MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

However, the standing committee additionally highlighted that terrorism has been a deterrent to restoration of regular bilateral ties.

“In view of the belligerent angle of Pakistan, the committee wishes that the federal government ought to proceed to proactively have interaction with regional and multilateral our bodies/organizations extensively in order to sensitize them of the position performed by Pakistan in fostering terrorism and win their help within the struggle in opposition to terrorism on its soil,” the report stated.

Meanwhile, the committee additionally really useful that the federal government resolve the pending Teesta water sharing situation on the earliest to additional enhance bilateral relations with Bangladesh.

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“The committee is aware of the long outstanding issue between India and Bangladesh on sharing of Teesta river water and desire that this important issue be worked out at the earliest for improved bilateral relations with Bangladesh. Regarding the Teesta issue, the committee reiterated the position of India, saying it is committed to sign the agreement as and when there is consensus on this issue,” stated the report.

Regarding Myanmar, the committee really useful that the federal government elevate the difficulty of repatriation of unlawful migrants with Myanmar authorities. It additionally stated that India’s growth initiatives shouldn’t get impacted by political turmoil.

The committee additionally urged the federal government to work with neighbouring international locations and converse in a single voice in opposition to nations within the rapid neighbourhood which can be engaged in spreading instability and pressure in India. The report additionally contained chapters on Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives.

“India has been facing threats and continuous tension, instability and heightened possibility of terrorist and militant attacks from its immediate neighbourhood for more than three decades. The committee, therefore, desires that India should work towards more closer cooperation amongst the member states in the region to create an environment where all neighbouring countries speak in one voice against the countries engaged in such activities and take proactive steps to counter the menace of terrorism and help to achieve the goal of lasting peace, stability and prosperity in the region,” the report stated.

NEW DELHI: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs has urged the Centre to think about establishing financial ties with Pakistan, regardless of the diplomatic deep-freeze in bilateral relations. It additionally urged the federal government to resolve the Teesta water sharing situation with Bangladesh and lift the difficulty of repatriation of unlawful migrants from Myanmar.

“Despite the diplomatic freeze, the committee has urged the Centre to think about the institution of financial ties with Pakistan if they arrive ahead and work in the direction of broader people-to-people contacts in view of the cultural commonalities and civilizational linkages between our two international locations and no feeling of enmity amongst residents of each the international locations,” the standing committee stated in its report. The report on India’s Neighbourhood First coverage was tabled in each homes of Parliament on Tuesday.

The chairperson of the committee is PP Chaudhary from the BJP whereas members embrace former Home Minister P Chidambaram of the Congress, Abhishek Banerjee of the TMC, BJP MP Swapan Dasgutpa and 27 different MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.googletag.cmd.push(operate() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

However, the standing committee additionally highlighted that terrorism has been a deterrent to restoration of regular bilateral ties.

“In view of the belligerent angle of Pakistan, the committee wishes that the federal government ought to proceed to proactively have interaction with regional and multilateral our bodies/organizations extensively in order to sensitize them of the position performed by Pakistan in fostering terrorism and win their help within the struggle in opposition to terrorism on its soil,” the report stated.

Meanwhile, the committee additionally really useful that the federal government resolve the pending Teesta water sharing situation on the earliest to additional enhance bilateral relations with Bangladesh.

ALSO READ | NSA Ajit Doval raises border situation with China at BRICS

“The committee is aware of the long outstanding issue between India and Bangladesh on sharing of Teesta river water and desire that this important issue be worked out at the earliest for improved bilateral relations with Bangladesh. Regarding the Teesta issue, the committee reiterated the position of India, saying it is committed to sign the agreement as and when there is consensus on this issue,” stated the report.

Regarding Myanmar, the committee really useful that the federal government elevate the difficulty of repatriation of unlawful migrants with Myanmar authorities. It additionally stated that India’s growth initiatives shouldn’t get impacted by political turmoil.

The committee additionally urged the federal government to work with neighbouring international locations and converse in a single voice in opposition to nations within the rapid neighbourhood which can be engaged in spreading instability and pressure in India. The report additionally contained chapters on Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives.

“India has been facing threats and continuous tension, instability and heightened possibility of terrorist and militant attacks from its immediate neighbourhood for more than three decades. The committee, therefore, desires that India should work towards more closer cooperation amongst the member states in the region to create an environment where all neighbouring countries speak in one voice against the countries engaged in such activities and take proactive steps to counter the menace of terrorism and help to achieve the goal of lasting peace, stability and prosperity in the region,” the report stated.