Will act against Kashmir Centre if guilty, says Belgium

Visiting Deputy PM of Belgium Didier Reynders Wednesday said action would be taken against the Kashmir Centre in Brussels if it is found to be indulging in anti-India activities.

Reynders, who held talks with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna here, replying to a question at a joint press conference, said, "Our Attorney General is following the activities of such organisations and if there is a possibility of it working against any country including India, we will take action."

The Kashmir Centre has been under the scanner since July last year after the FBI arrested Ghulam Nabi Fai in the US for allegedly using ISI funds to lobby for Kashmir. The centre in Brussels, run by Abdul Majeed Tramboo, has been active with his office located next to the European Union headquarters.

Though this matter was not discussed on Tuesday, it has been raised by India several times in the past, and the Belgium government had made strong statements in its parliament and sought to reassure New Delhi on this account earlier as well.

During the talks with Krishna, Reynders also assured that Brussels supported India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers' Group.

On the economic side, Reynders said India and the European Union are facing "difficulties" relating to the Services sector in signing the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). "With India, we have made progress in certain areas like in field of goods. There are more difficulties in services and we are trying to solve it.... We want more access for European companies to India and better access to Indian companies there," Reynders said.

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