India and Australia are expected to finalise a pact for sharing classified information to combat terrorism and discuss the alleged involvement of an Indian doctor during talks between Australian Defence Minister and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee .
NEW DELHI: India and Australia are expected to finalise a pact for sharing classified information to combat terrorism and discuss the alleged involvement of an Indian doctor in the foiled British terror plot during talks between Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday.
Nelson arrives here on a three-day visit on Tuesday evening.
Although the visit was planned much before the arrest of Bangalore-based Mohammad Haneef in the foiled Britain bombings, Nelson's trip will provide an opportunity to share notes on implications of the arrest and fine-tune a strategy on combating terrorism.
An Australian Federal Police agent is also currently here to meet intelligence officials to investigate the antecedents of Haneef, Australian embassy officials said.
An Australian judge on Monday permitted police to question Haneef for another 48 hours over the failed bombings in London and Glasgow.
During his talks with Nelson, Mukherjee is expected to convey New Delhi's concerns over any negative fallout of such an incident on the Indian diaspora, particularly Indian doctors, in Australia.
Issues relating to the quadrilateral dialogue forum, including India, Australia, Japan and the US, launched in Manila in May this year, could also figure in discussions.
The quadrilateral forum has aroused apprehensions in Beijing, which has reacted strongly saying that such a formation was directed to contain a rising China.
Nelson will also meet his Indian counterpart AK Antony and discuss the intensification of defence ties and sharing of maritime security data.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}