NEW DELHI, Nov 8:
Security situation in the region, including Afghanistan, Pakistan and cooperation in key areas, including civil nuclear energy, defence, counter-terrorism and cyber security were discussed between External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and his British counterpart William Hague here today.
Khurshid and Hague, who held comprehensive delegation- level talks, also discussed international issues such as Syria with both sides expressing readiness to support the efforts for peaceful resolution to the crisis there.
The two sides also decided to enhance cooperation in the area of cyber security, structured dialogue which was held for the first time last month, and agreed to conduct their Cyber Dialogue on a bi-annual basis.
As part of the India-UK Strategic Dialogue, it was agreed that the Foreign Ministries of the two countries would work together on areas of common interest in the cyber domain.
Asked about their views on the British aid of 280 million pounds per annum to India, both the leaders parried a direct answer with Hague saying governments of both countries want to move forward on this issue and his ministerial colleague was dealing with it while Khurshid said, “Aid is past, trade is future” and the countries are looking at the future.
They were addressing a joint press interaction.
Khurshid also said, “If we did not discuss it (aid issue), it did not merit a discussion.”
The UK decided to slash the assistance to half due to mounting domestic criticism that Britain’s overseas assistance to India was not justified in times of downturn.
The two sides also discussed the security situation in the region, including Pakistan, Afghanistan and the prospects of cooperation in the run-up to the withdrawal of international combat troops from the war-torn country by 2014. (AGENCIES)
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