India, Singapore join hands against terror

Emphasizing that intelligence sharing was a key requisite for combating terrorism, India and Singapore on Tuesday decided to exchange vital information to fight terror and organised transnational crime.

"The two sides have agreed to share information and intelligence, which is vital for tackling terrorism and transnational crime," a senior official told PTI after Home Minister Shivraj Patil held wide-ranging talks with his Singapore counterpart and Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kang Sen in Singapore.

Leading a six-member delegation of top officials, Patil, who arrived in Singapore early Tuesday morning on a three-day visit, discussed a range of security-related issues to enhance bonds between various agencies and police forces of the two sides.

The official said: "The talks that the Home minister had with the leadership here have been extremely productive and will be beneficial for the two countries. They focussed on peace and security, cooperation between security agencies and India's role in ASEAN."

After the nearly hour-long parleys, Wong said Singapore's strict vigilance had helped avert terrorist strikes after the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

Patil, who met former prime minister and currently senior minister Goh Chok Tong also, said India believed in resolving its problems through dialogue and in a peaceful manner.

Besides issues of security, intelligence sharing, cooperation between police forces and vigilance, and a gamut of bilateral issues figured during the talks, the official said.