Fences cannot be effectively mended unilaterally. It takes commitment from both sides. It is thus extremely heartening to see that both sides appear to genuinely desire a rapprochement. The joint press statement released by Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Morshed Khan and Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh is the latest and most concrete of indications that the new Congress government is serious about reforming India's relationship with Bangladesh, and that the Bangladeshi government is committed to making sure that this opportunity does not slip through our fingers.

The crucial understanding which appears to have been reached is an acknowledgment that the relationship has foundered in recent years, and that this has not been to the benefit of either country. Equally important is the statement that bilateral relations should not be held prisoner to the past. In other words, both sides have pledged to let bygone be bygones and to start afresh from a position of mutual respect and understanding.

The assurance that matters of concern will be addressed with a co-operative rather than a confrontational approach is exactly what is needed. The corollary to this statement, that issues with an international angle will be decided only after due consultation and not unilaterally, is similarly welcome.

The simple truth is that there are many outstanding issues between Bangladesh and India that need to be resolved. In many of these cases, the interests of the two countries are in conflict. Nothing is gained from attempting to minimise this fact. However, surely the best way forward for both countries is to attempt to settle these differences amicably rather than confrontationally.

The training camp jolt

Let's meet the challenge head-on

After a long time, a massive police raid has led to the unearthing of a training camp of suspected Islamic militants at a remote wooded swathe in Chittagong. The police acted promptly and decisively on a tip-off tracking down the hideout, arresting a few, and confiscating training equipment including dummy weapons on Tuesday. The discovery has more significance than meets the eye. For, it cannot fail to remind us of some of the recent trends like hauling up of arm caches and on-going off-going bomb blasts. We also recall newspaper reports on clandestine training activities going a few years back.

Now, the question is not whether, but how the government ought to go about meeting the challenge of containing what is surely turning out to be a very potent source of trouble for, and destabilisation in the society. The approach we would like the administration to take should have three elements. First, the incident should be put in a broader perspective rather than seen in an isolated manner. In other words, a truncated approach should be avoided. Secondly, it must not be viewed through a political lens. Political prejudices and partisanship should not be allowed to interfere with the processes of investigation, prosecution and conviction. Last but not least, militancy must not be confused with religion. The reason why we emphasise the point is because extremism, especially of the armed and violent variety, is worse than an aberration of religion; for, it employs religion for sinister political purposes.

The government better not have any psychological barrier in dealing with the problem, thinking that some of its allies might be upset.

It is also imperative that the real character and content of such militancy is fully uncovered. The matter has acquired such grave import that the government shouldn't turn a blinkered eye to it; instead, it must go all out in plumbing the depths of any ideological connections or extraneous links this may have spelling further dangers of spreading tentacles in our country.