20 January 2004	Tuesday	27 Ziqa'ad 1424

DHAKA, Jan 19: Speakers at a Seminar on Geo-strategic Implications of Indo-Israel Nexus were critical of the nexus, while some of them observed on Monday that Israel's intrusion into South Asia might bring misfortune to the people of the region.

Organised by the Dhaka-based Centre for Strategic and Peace Studies (CSPS), the seminar was addressed by academicians, policy-makers, researchers, politicians and a group of retired military officers.

M. Sakhawat Hussain, a retired Brigadier General, in his keynote paper, said that Bangladesh's main concern over the growing India-Israel nexus, particularly over the issue of containing the so-called Islamic terrorism, is important, as "our relationship with India at the strategic level still remains ambivalent".

"We must try to compensate for the country's military weakness with pro-active diplomacy and our relationship with China must be strengthened, and also with Southeast Asian countries," said Mr Hussain.

Professor Emajuddin Ahmed, a former vice chancellor of Dhaka University, called for strengthening of the Organization of Islamic Conference to protect the interests of the Muslim world as well as to face the intrusion of Israel into South Asia.

Prof Emajuddin that Indian link with Israel would accelerate the arms race in the region. Barrister Moudud Ahmed, however, said Bangladesh would definitely take the issue seriously, but the policy-makers should remember that India and Israel have forged the relationship for their mutual benefit.

"When we discuss the India-Israel relationship we have to consider the Pakistan issue as well, as two important countries of the South Asian region are trying to develop their relationship," he continued.

On the other hand, the law minister urged the Muslim world not to consider the US "war on terror" as "war on Islam". "If the Muslim world sees the 'war on terror' from the wrong angle, it may become disastrous for us," he cautioned.