India, Turkey issue joint declaration on terrorism

New Delhi: India and Turkey on Tuesday agreed to work together with other like-minded countries for the finalization of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the earliest.

Turkey is the first Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) country to come out with a joint declaration with India on terrorism. The declaration, one of the two such documents adopted after the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting Turkish President Hayrunnisa Gul, denounces "those who sponsor, abet and instigate terrorism and provide them safe havens", sources said.

Asked if the point referred to Pakistan, they said it was not any "country-specific". Underlining the importance of such a declaration with Turkey, sources said that Turkey was a key player in world arena and its commitment to work together for finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the earliest will play a crucial role.

Besides taking a review of the relations, Dr Singh and Ms Gul also talked about charting a forward-looking agenda for multi-faceted cooperation with Singh emphasising that the bilateral relations stood on their own footing and should be taken forward in that spirit.

The sources downplayed the incident of India not being invited at a regional conference on Afghanistan held in Istanbul and parried the question if it was conveyed to Ms Gul by Dr Singh.