Dhaka-Beijing deal 'no threat to India'

Amid Indian worries about the Bangladesh-China defence deal signed in Beijing on Wednesday, Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Morshed Khan said yesterday "it would definitely not harm Indo-Bangla relations''.

"It does not contain anything destructive nor is it directed at any third country," Khan said in Dhaka as he was briefing the press about Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's just-concluded five-day visit to China.

Dhaka and Beijing signed four agreements including one on defence cooperation during Khaleda's China visit that ended on Friday.

At the press conference, the foreign minister refused to release a copy of the defence accord or disclose its contents.

"I must make it clear that it's not a security pact, but one on expanding cooperation only. The deal aims to modernise the armed forces of Bangladesh. Training of the troops is its main focus," he said.

"The deal is renewable after every five years."

Asked if Bangladesh would purchase military hardware from China under the new agreement, the foreign minister replied: "We did not carry a shopping list while visiting China. Bangladesh can ill afford expensive military equipment."

In the face of a volley of questions, the minister said under the defence accord the two countries would sit when necessary to decide on increased cooperation in the defence sector. "We'll do whatever is necessary for peace."

India's Telegraph newspaper reported yesterday that the Bangladesh-China defence agreement "is being watched in India with cautious interest".

South Block is not sure what the pact would mean for the two countries and for the region. But some in the establishment are worried that the renewed vigour with which China is wooing Bangladesh may be aimed at opening another front against India, this time in the east, the daily reported.