India, Qatar Ink Defence Agreement

India, Qatar Ink Defence Agreement

Doha(ABC Live):Indian and Qatar have signed a landmark defence cooperation pact which will deal in security concerns of Qatar and seeks to safeguard India's interests in the oil-rich Gulf region.

Doha(ABC Live):Indian and Qatar have signed a landmark defence cooperation pact which will deal in security concerns of Qatar and seeks to safeguard India's interests in the oil-rich Gulf region.

According to reports the two sides signed agreements on defence and security, dealing with key areas like maritime security, intelligence sharing on terrorism, money laundering and transnational crime.

Sources close to prime Minster of India  told ABC Live Journalist that the agreement will work as just short of stationing troops.

The deal was inked by  Defence Secretary Vijay Singh and his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al Thani last evening after Singh led delegation-level talks.

The defence pact lays out a structure for joint maritime security and training as well as exchange of visits.

Another agreement on law and security enforcement was signed by Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed and his Qatari counterpart.

The pact deals with issues such as money laundering and transnational crimes.

It lays out framework for sharing of information and database on threats posed by extremists and other security and legal matters, officials said.

The Prime Minister called on the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani on Monday afternoon to discuss wide-ranging issues to further economic, commercial and energy ties between the two countries. The Emir also hosted a private lunch for the Prime Minister and his wife Gursharan Kaur.