Monday, May 29 2006 17:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India and Singapore will explore ways of cooperation to combat terrorism and drug trafficking and exchange views on capacity building between security agencies during a three-day visit of Home Minister Shivraj Patil to the city-state beginning tomorrow (May 29,2006).

Patil, who will be accompanied by a six-member team ofsenior officials, will be meeting Singapore President S RNathan, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and holding talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Wong Kan Seng.

"The focus of the Home Minister's visit is to discuss cooperation on exchanging intelligence information on terrorism and organised crime, curbing trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and exchanging views on capacity building between law enforcement agencies on the two country," a senior Home Ministry official said today.

New Delhi, the official said, has been looking forward to closely working on security-related areas with Singapore, which has been a supporter of Indian positions on various field including trade with ASEAN, a key grouping of South-EastAsian countries. India is a dialogue-partner of ASEAN.

Among others accompanying the Home Minister are Secretary (Border Management) B S Lalli, Additional Secretary P V Bhide, Deputy Director General of Narcotics Control Board (NCB) Rajiv Walia, Joint Secretary (South) in the External Affairs Ministry Biren Nanda and a senior official of the Intelligence Bureau.

Shortly after his arrival tomorrow morning, Patil will go into parleys with with his Singaporean counterpart and will be briefed on the security situation in the region and counter-terrorism measures taken by the city-state.

Patil will also be informed about Singapore's police system, measures to protect its key installations and its surveillance system, the official said.

The Home Minsiter will also hold talks with S Jayakumar, Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister, who is also the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Law on Wednesday.

During his stay, Patil will visit Singapore's Civil Defence Academy and Home Team Academy besides delivering a lecture at the prestigious Institute of South East Asian Studies on 'Success of India's Democracy and Federation'.

Patil will also be meeting some leading members of Indian Community settled in the city-state before returning home on June two.