100 Australians have joined Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, says Foreign Minister Julie Bishop
In an exclusive interview with Headlines Today's Smita Sharma, Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop revealed that around 100 Australians have joined the ranks of Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.
In an exclusive interview with Headlines Today's Smita Sharma, Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop revealed that around 100 Australians have joined the ranks of terror group, the Islamic State, in Syria and Iraq. Bishop also said Pakistan is sending out the wrong message to the world with the release of Lashkar terrorist Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.
Q. Congratulations on your team's World Cup victory.
A. If India had to lose the World Cup to anyone I am glad it was Australia.
Q. I was at the Australian High Commission and had a mixed feeling as India lost that game.
A. I can understand. We are both great cricketing nations. We take our cricket very seriously and I think that we are formidable foes when we are out on the cricket field but we are very dear friends off the field.
Q. Did you find time to watch one of those matches?
A. Not in person, but I saw glimpses of it on TV. I'm afraid, the life of a foreign minister means I am not at the same place at the same time very often.
Q. The uranium agreement has been signed, when do we see it operationalising?
A. It is currently going through our parliamentary processes as we have a joint standing committee on treaties that looks at and reviews all agreements that Australia enters and our officials are going through a number of negotiations and I'm expecting them to be concluded very shortly.
Q. Any deadline in mind?
A. There is no specific deadline because it needs to go through Parliamentary processes but I'm confident that it can be concluded .There are a few issues but I'm very pleased to see progress being made. Australia is committed to being a very strong energy partner with India through coal, gas and also through uranium for your nuclear needs. There are some processes that need to be concluded including a Parliamentary review by our joint Parliamentary committees on treaties but I'm confident that they can be concluded and that the agreement can be ratified.
Q. Is there a time framework for completion of Free Trade agreement?
A. Our respective governments are very enthusiastic about the opportunity of greater cooperation in the area of economic trade and investment. I'm hopeful that we will conclude the Free Trade agreement this year in 2015 . Our minister of trade has been here in January this year and brought an enormous delegation from Australia. About 450 senior business people came from Australia to India. There is significant interest in FTA with India and both our countries stand to benefit enormously, should we be able to conclude an agreement. We have so many things in common. We welcome India FDI to Australia and many Australian companies are wanting to invest in India. There are many benefits to gain from an FTA so I can assure you that we are committed to conclude it as early as possible.
Where does Australia fit in into the Make in India mantra?
A. There are many opportunities. We have expertise in a range of fields. Australian companies can manufacture in other countries, bring our technical abilities and expertise to schools. There are opportunities for Indian companies to work in Australia. There are two way benefits which are most important in this FTA and also a part of much more liberal free trade approach in our region. Australia is a part of liberal Trans pacific partnership negotiations. Australia and India, both are part of ASEP negotiations revolving around ASEAN countries. So we are seeing many more countries recognise that the economic growth and opportunities come from free markets and more liberalised trade routes.
Q. When PM Modi claims that his government has eased out the business processes in India and there is greater fiscal discipline over the last 10 months, does Australia buy those claims? Is enough being done on the ground?
A. Certainly very excited by PM Modi's economic reform agenda and we see more progress in this regard and we certainly support his economic agenda. Australia is likewise going through the process of coming to terms with a changing economy. We are moving from a stage where economic growth has been built on investment in the construction phase of energy projects .Those projects are now moving towards the production phase. So we are looking for broader base activity in the non resource sector. Many economies around the world are going through a transition and we are sure that India and Australia working together can create more job opportunities, more economic benefits for both their countries.
Q. Not just economic cooperation, there is maritime cooperation. You have blue economy project with Mauritius and Seychelles. China has one belt and one initiative maritime silk route project. How much of divergence and convergence of interests there?
A. I believe that Australia and India' s interests are converging in an unprecedented way. Our relationship is broader, deeper and more diverse than ever before. Last year we had a visit by PM Abbott to India and then a visit by PM Modi to Australia for G20 and a bilateral visit. I think that is the first time we have had such meetings in one year in a decade. It is a very positive sign. Indian Ocean is our region and neighbourhood. India and Australia are the two states of the Indian Ocean. Australia is chairing the Indian Ocean Rim Association taking over from India. India gave that organisation a substance, form and significance that it did not previously have. I see that as recognition by both the countries, that as chairs of the Indian Ocean Rim, it is significant not just in maritime security but also in this blue economy. We are doing projects with a number of countries in the Indian Ocean Rim Association so that the countries can recognise the opportunities that come from harnessing all that their oceans have to offer, whether it is aquaculture, tourism, maritime security or fishing rights. There is so much that we can do together to recognise the potential of the Indian Ocean.
Q. How worrisome is China's expansion in Indian Ocean? China claims not indulging in territorial expansions in South China sea. Also there was a Chinese nuclear submarine docked in Indian Ocean in Sri Lanka last year.
A. Australia and India have a very similar view. We don't take a position on territorial claims but we require all countries to abide by international norms and laws. All countries to de-escalate tensions and to ensure that any maritime claim is handled through appropriate international avenues. In relation to East China Sea and South China Sea, Australia has been very vocal in calling for calm, in calling for free access.
Q. Is China abiding by international norms?
A. China is negotiating with the ASEAN countries now for a code of conduct and we support that process. We believe that there should be a code of conduct. We support the ASEAN countries in negotiating that with China but we believe that we all have so much to gain from proper, appropriate access through the India Ocean and South China Sea. We need to ensure that there is peace and prosperity in this region.
Q. Will it not provoke China further if India were to align with US or have increased maritime exercises with Australia and Japan?
A. The India-US strategic document was very positive. It spoke about increased security cooperation, stability and prosperity. That is good for all countries. If the two major democracies in the Indian Ocean and Asia Pacific, US and India are working closely, that is good for everyone and we support that. We are certainly hoping to work more closely with India in maritime exercises. We are planning a bilateral maritime exercise later this year. So that our defence cooperation is stronger and deeper than ever before and that's a positive sign. We want to see China positively engage in our region and with the rest of the world.
Q. Every now and then reports arise of attacks in Melbourne and Sydney against Indians. How safe are Indians in Australia?
A. Indians are welcome to visit Australia. We welcome Indian students, Indian tourists and there is a significant Indian community in Australia. About 4,50,000 people of Indian heritage live in Australia. Hence, Indians are an integral part of our society. There was an incident recently where an Indian woman was tragically killed. I'm assured by the authorities that this was a random criminal act and was not racially motivated. The premier of New South Wales Mike Baird has committed to a full and thorough investigation which is already underway and he is committed to find the perpetrator and bring him to justice. But I'm reassured that it was not racially motivated. Criminal acts can take place anywhere, anytime.
Q. But in the suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne, where most of the Indians stay, what kind of steps are being taken to ensure their safety?
A. Some years ago, when there were attacks on Indian students, we responded swiftly to ensure that the NSW and Victorian police are aware of their concerns. They put in place a number of programs and initiatives to deal with it. And our law enforcement agencies are well aware of the needs to ensure that people are safe and feel safe. But sadly random criminal attacks can happen anywhere. They can happen here, in Sydney or Melbourne. People need to take appropriate precautions. Don't go out alone at night. But that's an advice I give to anybody, whenever they are travelling around the world. The premier has confirmed that they will do all they can to bring this perpetrator to justice.
Are there inclusive programs as well?
A. Australia is a very inclusive society. We have people from every corner of the globe. The country has been built by welcoming migrants from all countries around the world and we are one of the great multi cultural experiments that has succeeded. It is important for us that people feel welcome, safe and very much part of the Australian community. We love having Indian students in Australia and we want to set up programs so that Australian students can study in India and we will have a two way exchange of young people. Investing in young people is what both India and Australia are good at.
Q. What is the kind of terror threat we are facing today? The lone wolf attacks or the rise of the IS, what is biggest threat?
A. We are witnessing a more complex, more global, more dangerous form of terrorism than ever before. It is exemplified by IS in the Middle East. A barbaric terrorist organisation that has no regard for state boundaries or nation states or laws. Disregards humanity or any civilised behaviour. Some of these beheadings and mass murders that are carried out and put up on social media is medieval and that is why Australia is taking this threat of terrorism very seriously. We are affected, in fact very few countries are immune from this because there are around 100 Australians that have joined this terrorist organisation and are fighting in Syria and Iraq. That is why Australia has joined the coalition led by the US and Iraqi government to try and stop this terrorist organisation. We hope the Iraqi defence force territory is able to stop the sufferings of the people of Iraq and Syria. Tragically, these foreign terrorist fighters can go home or go elsewhere and seek to carry out terrorist attacks. and that is why we are trying to stop them. What it means is that the peace loving nations of the globe have to come together, put aside their differences and work together to counter this violent form of barbaric terrorism.
Q. Pakistan has double standards despite being in this fight. Lakhvi was released from the Adiala jail. How do you see these developments?
A. We are deeply concerned by news that the alleged mastermind of the Mumbai 2008 attacks has now been released on bail. We do ask Pakistan to consider the message that it sends to the rest of the world. We don't interfere with other countries judicial system but we must cooperate and work together to try and stand up against this form of terrorism .All countries must realise that terrorists can attack anywhere and anytime. We have seen it in Paris, Belgium, London, Australia and even here in India.
Q. In January, DFAT issued an updated advisory of attacks against hotels and market places in India. Does that still exist? With the likes of Lakhvi walking free, do chances of such attacks increase?
A. Travel advisories are based on security advice we receive in any country and they reflect the circumstances as our intelligence and security agencies see it. We do encourage people to read the travel advisories. Most of them just make common sense. We have to work together to have a consistent approach to counter terrorism. Australia and India are working in many forms together through UN and also bilaterally. This will be a part of discussions that I will have during my trip to New Delhi so we that have more consistent and a coordinated approach in countering terrorism.
Q. Are you apprehensive of more attacks from across the border with Lakhvi and Hafiz Saeed walking on the streets freely?
A. No country is immune from terrorist attacks. I was informed by the UN recently that around 80 countries count foreign terrorist fighters among their citizens. We have to take this very seriously. I believe that we are facing one of the greatest national security threats that Australia has ever faced and I know that other countries feel similarly. Key to it is to present an alternate narrative for the violent ideology and the cause that terrorist organisations like IS and others are using to attract supporters. We have to present an alternative narrative. Australia and India, both are open and free democracies, both committed to the rule of law, freedom and human rights.
Q. Do you see India on a permanent seat at UNSC anytime soon?
A. I know that PM Modi has said that it is the aim of India. If UNSC was to be expanded by another member I can't think of a better candidate than India. You have certainly earned it. It would also give geographic balance through this and also recognise that India is one of the most exciting, dynamic and democratic superpowers to emerge in the 21st century. India certainly deserves the place whether the Security Council is ever restructuring this way time will tell.