By SOMAN BABY
INDIA has vital interests in the security of the Gulf region, said India's National Security Advisor M K Narayanan last night.
Several developments, including issues relating to Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon, have made the Gulf an extremely volatile region, he noted.
India is ready to share its experience with the Gulf to deal with vital security issues, said Mr Narayanan, who is in Bahrain to attend the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) Manama Dialogue at the Ritz Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa.
Mr Narayanan, who met Crown Prince and BDF Commander-in-Chief Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, said India could offer its expertise to Gulf countries depending on the nature of requests made.
"We have found that for these countries, there is a comfort factor in dealing with India," he told a Press conference at the hotel.
Mr Narayanan said India was particularly concerned about the developments in Afghanistan.
"India has already invested $700 million (BD265m) towards the reconstruction and rehabilitation process in Afghanistan," he added.
"It is of the strong view that there should be no compromise with extremists or extremism and any compromise will make the terrorists succeed."
Terrorism, said Mr Narayanan, was the most dangerous phenomenon.
"Countries of the region should take note of the terrorists' global mobility, funding and training," he continued.
On Iraq, Mr Narayanan said the intrinsic forces must recognise the nature of the volatile situation in that country and take a more realistic position.
He said India was also of the view that Iran was entitled to all the rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty for meeting its civil nuclear needs, but the country should maintain its international obligations.
The Press conference was also attended by Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty.
