November 7, 2003	Friday	Ramazan 11, 1424

BISHKEK, Nov 6: India’s Defence Minister George Fernandes on Thursday promised to step up cooperation with the Central Asian republic of Kyrghyzstan in combating terrorism.

“The Taliban and Al Qaeda have regrouped and there is no sign that they have peaceful intentions — both our countries face identical threats,” George Fernandes told journalists during a short tour of ex-Soviet Central Asia.

Topping Mr Fernandes’s agenda was the possibility of India providing this mountain republic’s military with technological help and training in mountain combat methods.

Kyrghyzstan experienced sporadic incursions from Afghanistan during the Taliban rule.

These fizzled out when Bishkek joined the United States’ “anti-terrorism campaign”, letting US forces set up an airbase near the capital, but Washington has continued to warn of the possibility of future attacks.

While India’s interest in Central Asia reflects that of powers such as China, Russia and the United States it may also be aimed at limiting the influence of Pakistan.—AFP