Miliband wants Indo-British ties to be further strengthened

Britain’s new David Cameron-led government should work towards further strengthening UK’s bilateral ties with India, which have never been better, former Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said.

Mr. Miliband, a strong contender for Labour leadership, said the Indo-Britain ties during his party’s term, were marked by the remarkable relationship between former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Manmohan Singh, as he pressed on the need to build on the achievements of the previous government.

“During the Labour regime, the two Prime Ministers -- Gordon Brown and Dr Manmohan Singh -- had a fantastic relationship and British Indian relationship was never been better,” Mr. Miliband said here on Tuesday night.

Emphasising that it is very important for any government to build on the achievements of previous governments, Mr. Miliband, said: “I want to see the links between Britain and India strengthened properly“.

Earlier, speaking at a reception held in honour of the newly elected Councillors at the famous Red Fort restaurant, Mr. Miliband called upon partymen to re-dedicate themselves to champion the cause of the electorate with “principal, humility and determination“.

He said though the party had lost power at the national level, it had gained power in most of the Councils.

“We have suffered defeat at the national level but (we are) not defeated,” he noted.

Mr. Miliband said the party should be proud of the achievements made during its 13-year regime, particularly in the Middle East peace process, democratic rule in Pakistan, improving friendship with India and supporting the cause of the people of Sri Lanka.

“Modern Britain is much stronger and much more multi-cultural,” he said at the reception organised by NRI Labour MP Rt Hon Keith Vaz, Member, National Executive Committee of the party.

Leader of the Opposition, Harriett Harman was the Chief Guest.

No ruling out Manmohan, Gilani meeting during SAARC meet: Krishna

In a first official indication of a possible meeting between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan here, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Monday said the bilateral meeting cannot be ruled out.

“I am not ruling it out,” Mr. Krishna said when asked if Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet his Pakistani counterpart Yusuf Raza Gilani during his visit here for the SAARC summit to be held on April 28 to 29.

Observing that heads of states and governments are going to be under the same roof for the next couple of days for the multilateral meeting, the minister said there will be a number of bilateral meetings during the period.

“Lets wait and watch, how things are going to work out,” he said, adding “all bilateral issues between India and Pakistan will be discussed as and when the Prime Ministers meet“.

Asked about Pakistan’s request seeking the testimony of the Indian magistrates who recorded the confessional statement of Mumbai attack accused Ajmal Kasab, Mr. Krishna said he was yet to examine the matter.

Mr. Krishna said he has received the dossier containing the request late last night but he was yet to go through the same.

Maintaining that Kasab’s trial was in advanced stage in India, he said it was going on in full steam.

“We have to complete our legal formalities first and then we can examine Pakistan’s request for the same,” he said, adding, the matter will be examined in consultation with other ministries and departments.

The Pakistani side has made a request for three Indian officials, including two magistrates and an investigator, to be allowed to travel to Pakistan to testify that they had recorded Kasab’s statement.

A special court in Mumbai hearing the case of Kasab, the lone gunman captured alive by Indian authorities after the Mumbai siege of 2008, is expected to deliver its verdict on May 3.

Mr. Krishna arrived here for the 16th SAARC summit to be held on Wednesday and Thursday.