TASHKENT, 27 April 2006 — India yesterday raised its strategic stakes in Central Asia by stepping up efforts to fight terrorism jointly with Uzbekistan, promote stability in the region and cement bilateral ties in the key area of energy security.
India and Uzbekistan also signed seven accords in the fields of energy, education, agricultural research, business and mineral prospecting.
In a significant boost to India’s energy diplomacy, Uzbek President Islam Karimov said that he was willing to offer India oil exploration blocks on a joint management basis in the ratio of 50:50. Ways to counter “international terrorism in all its manifestations” by attacking its source of financing dominated discussions between the two leaders.
“Both our countries face the common threats of terrorism, fundamentalism and religious extremism and President Karimov and I have resolved to continue to work together to combat these dangers,” Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told reporters at a joint press interaction with Karimov.
“The two sides emphasized the need for expeditious adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the framework of the UN,” said a joint statement issued at the end of the talks that referred to “the similarity or coincidence on major global and regional issues.”
Manmohan and Karimov held talks for nearly 90 minutes yesterday afternoon on a wide array of bilateral and global issues, including terrorism, trade, energy security, the situation in Afghanistan and regional stability.
