The security measures are being intensified by the Afghan government after a fresh assessment suggested increased threat to the Indians, particularly those engaged in construction of a crucial highway from Delaram to Zaranj, sources said. The assessment of the threat was carried out by a two-member team of senior officials of the External Affairs Ministry which went to Afghanistan.
In a special gesture, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday visited cyclone-ravaged areas in Bangladesh and assured that India will extend all possible assistance to the neighbouring country in their hour of crisis.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee made these announcements in Dhaka as he handed over a fresh consignment of Indian relief material to Bangladesh's foreign adviser Iftekhar Chowdhury at the Zia International Airport soon after his arrival for a day-long visit. "India has always attached high importance to its relations with Bangladesh. We stand by Bangladesh in its efforts to rebuild the lives of those affected by the cyclone," said Mukherjee.
A high-level meeting between the two sides will be held in New Delhi from Monday on the comprehensive economic agreement which aims at eliminating trade barriers to enhance commerce between India and the EU.
The government-run Invest In France Agency, tasked with attracting overseas business, has identified 300 Indian companies, mainly in IT and pharma sectors, as prospective investors in this country and plans to launch vigorous campaigns to tap these.
Mukherjee, who was in South Korea for a three-day official visit, came to the Korean Demilitarised Zone for a brief time.
As Maoists walked out of the Koirala government in Nepal, India on Tuesday expressed hope that all concerned would implement their previous understandings and resolve differences democratically.
On a three-day visit to Seoul since Sunday, he made it clear that the increasing cooperation between India and the US was not aimed at containing China.
"As India's largest neighbour and a key emerging player in the international arena, China remains an important priority of our foreign policy," said External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Mukherjee said the international community could have trade with India after a safeguards agreement is in place.
"India is always against any armed intervention by any country in another country," Pranab said.
Kumaran Padmanathan, who allegedly financed former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, was reported to have been detained in Thailand earlier this week.
Lauding India's track record on non-proliferation, Japan said it has been a "good boy" despite remaining outside Non Proliferation Treaty regime, but New Delhi should shoulder the responsibility to strengthen the NPT regime.
At least 134 highly trained commandos will be despatched in two batches beginning this month for protection of Border Roads Organisation personnel constructing a crucial highway in Afghanistan, sources told PTI in New Delhi on Sunday.
The rejuvenated effort came with Japan recently showing active interest again in the joint endeavour after remaining lukewarm for about a year on its participation in the G-4.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee made it clear that the joint initiative was aimed at covering terrorism everywhere and no area can be kept out of its ambit as terrorists do not respect any territorial borders.
"The more we talk of the past, more we posture and more we take away the potential of the mechanism," Kasuri said in the interview.
Riaz Mohammad Khan said Jammu and Kashmir was 'disputed' and should not be 'mixed' with the initiative, which is between India and Pakistan only.
"We want to take relations forward," Menon said in his opening remarks.
"Our advice is not to further escalate tension and defuse the situation through dialogue and discussion."
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