"We're very close friends. We will have frank and candid discussions on all issues. We will not discuss only negative issues, but we have also positive and complimentary issues--we will discuss how we can cooperate with each other and move forward," Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan told the members of the Overseas Correspondents Association Bangladesh (Ocab) at the National Press Club yesterday.

Morshed said both countries should be sensitive to each other's concerns and initiate practical measures to address those concerns--starting from trade to security and from border to water management--as he said Bangladesh attaches importance to its relations with its close neighbours like India and Myanmar.

During the hour-long briefing, the foreign minister replied to a volley of questions on issues between Dhaka and New Delhi, international terrorism and counter-terrorism, Dhaka-Washington relations and government's 'look east' policy.

Ocab President Zahiduzzaman Farooq chaired the briefing and its General Secretary Shamim Ahmad gave the vote of thanks.

Asked about major issues that might come up during the official talks with Natwar Singh here on August 6, the first day of Singh's three-day bilateral goodwill visit, Morshed said trade imbalance, para-tariff and non-tariff barriers, border and water management, human trafficking and drug smuggling etc might come up.

" We'll not hide anything. All issues of discontent will be on the table. We may not resolve all the issues overnight, but we will try to address those with an open mind to find solutions," he told a correspondent.

Asked about India's border fencing, he said Bangladesh will not allow any structure permanent in nature that is considered a defiance structure under the 1975 border guidelines. But he said Bangladesh Rifles and other agencies found that India is constructing the barbed-wire fences within 150 yards from the zero line.

" We will definitely not allow it; we will continue to stop it," he said, adding: "India can build whatever it likes within their territory."

He, however, said, " If there is any practical difficulty they face, those can be settled through discussion in diplomatic channel. But unilateral construction violating the guidelines will not be accepted."

Asked about Indian allegation of huge illegal migration from Bangladesh, the foreign minister said illegal migration might take place from either side, and there are international rules to deal with this issue. But unilateral deportation does not comply with the set norms.

In this context, he recalled that the slain Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi stated in 1973 that all Bangladeshi refugees, who went to India during the Liberation War, returned to their homeland. "Any guesswork by Indian side of five lakh to 20 million illegal migrants will not work," he said, reminding as a passing reference that many Indian leaders are also migrants from Bangladesh.

On India's concern about anti-Indian cross-border insurgency, Morshed said they used to bring this allegation 3-4 years ago; but in last few months such allegations have evaporated as "we are very serious about any insurgency".

Asked about Indian proposal for extradition treaty with Bangladesh, the foreign minister said it is a long process; but the proposal has not been shelved, it is being studied by various agencies.

On India's planned river-linking project and dam on the Tipaimukh river, Morshed said, "We expect India to be sensitive to these matters as such projects will seriously affect Bangladesh ecologically, agriculturally and environmentally."

About Bangladesh's position on tri-nation gas pipeline, he said it is a selling and buying affair between India and Myanmar. If Bangladesh gets involved, it will be dealt on "commercial" basis since it is not a political matter, he observed.

About Myanmar's reported change in position on the Bangladesh-Myanmar highway, Morshed said Yangon had never committed funds for the project. He said the communications ministers of Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand would sit and settle the matter.