India keen on signing terror pact with UAE

New Delhi: The Indian government is keen on signing an agreement with the UAE for better coordination between the two countries in the fields of crime and terrorism.

A cabinet meeting, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday approved signing of the agreement aimed at establishing an institutional framework.

According to Home Minister P Chidambaram, the pact would facilitate initiatives to curb activities of terrorists and organised criminal groups.

New Delhi has been appreciative of the help extended by UAE authorities all these years even without a formal agreement, particularly deportation of some suspects to face trail in India.

Chidambaram said that a formal agreement would help coordinate an approach to combat international terrorism, organised crime, drug trafficking, illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition, explosives, radioactive and nuclear material.