— Photo: PTI

STRENGTHENING TIES: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov in Tashkent on Wednesday.

Tashkent: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said New Delhi and Uzbekistan should fight terrorism collectively.

Speaking at a banquet hosted here by Uzbek President Islam Karimov, he asked Tashkent to lead the way in ensuring peace and stability in the region. ``Our common objective is to seek peace and prosperity for our people. Terrorism is a menace that must be fought collectively.''

Stability and prosperity of Central Asia ``is in the interest of not just India but the world community as a whole. This goal cannot be reached without Uzbekistan, which must lead the way,'' the Prime Minister said. Uzbekistan, which shares a border with Afghanistan, is also facing terrorism in some parts.

Gas exploration

During his 90-minute talk with Dr. Singh, Mr. Karimov said Uzbekistan, one of the world's 10 largest producers of gas, could offer exploration facilities to Indian companies in the hydrocarbon sector with a proposal that the two countries share extracts equally. Uzbekistan "resolutely backed" India's claim to permanent membership of the expanded United Nations Security Council.

The two leaders discussed terrorism, drug trafficking, the Afghanistan situation and U.N. reforms. Enhancement of energy, economic and trade cooperation also figured prominently.

Addressing a joint press conference, Mr. Karimov said the two sides agreed to set up working groups in the oil and gas sectors, besides on information technology, under the framework of an Inter-Governmental Commission.

The two sides signed seven pacts including a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation between the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Uzbekistan's National Holding Company, Uzbekneftegaz.

A Memorandum of Cooperation between Gas Authority of India Limited and Uzbekneftegaz, and an MoU on geology and mineral resources between the Coal Ministry and Uzbekistan's State Committee were also signed.

Mr. Karimov said he was aware that energy security was an important part of India's policy. "Uzbekistan is ready to allocate geological territory to Indian companies to explore the resource of gas, oil and other hydrocarbons.'' The products of this exploration could be shared on a 50-50 basis.

Dr. Singh said India saw Uzbekistan ``as an important element in any effort to optimally utilise the energy resources of Central Asia." Uzbekistan is estimated to have 594 million barrels of proven oil reserves and an estimated 66.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves.

On the pacts signed, Dr. Singh said the "next step would be the signing of a document for specifically issuing allocation on the basis of concessions to Indian companies of territories for further allocation of hydrocarbon resources in Uzbekistan." — PTI

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