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Saudi Arabia, India fail to sign anti-terror accord

NEW DELHI: Efforts to sign an anti-terrorism treaty between Saudi Arabia and India have reportedly failed.

The two countries did sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on jointly fighting crime on Thursday. Although Saudi King Abdullah, on a visit to India, spoke of “a struggle against terrorism” and cooperation from India, the MoU does not cover terrorism.

Sources said that the Indian government was also piqued over the Saudi monarch’s refusal to visit Mahatma Gandhi’s samadhi at Raj Ghat, an unwavering part of the itinerary of visiting dignitaries.

Sources said that the anti-terror accord could not materialise because of differences in perceptions on the definition of terrorism. The newspaper Hindustan Times reported on Thursday that the two countries hit a “rough patch” on defining terrorism. India’s proposed Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, a precursor to an extradition treaty, did not materialise as a result, it said. Sources privy to the talks said that India could not agree to the Saudi demand to incorporate “freedom struggles” as justification of acts of violence, categorically opposing use of terror against civilians. iftikhar gilani

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