Australian foreign affairs minister heads to India; racial attacks on agenda

Australia's foreign affairs minister Stephen Smith is heading to India tomorrow to discuss with Indian authorities the security preparation for the Commonwealth Games and the issue of attacks on Indians here.
    
On his second visit to India since last year, Smith will meet government officials in New Delhi to discuss the October Games and will also watch Australia compete in the Hockey World Cup in the national capital.
    
Smith leaves Perth for the subcontinent tomorrow on a three-day trip during which he would brief Indian government on actions taken by Australia to ensure a safe environment for Indian students.
    
"At government or official level, there is a very much an understanding that behind these attacks is not an all-pervading racism," Smith was quoted as saying by AAP.
    
Smith also said in a statement that he would brief the Indian government "on actions taken by authorities to create a safe and rewarding study environment for Indian students in Australia".
    
"I will meet with minister for external affairs SM Krishna, following on from our meeting in London in January," the foreign minister said.
    
There has been a flurry of visits by top Australian dignitaries, including prime minister Kevin Rudd and deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Julia Gillard, in the past year to reassure New Delhi that Australia was a safe destination for Indians.

There have been over 100 cases of attacks on Indians, mostly on students, in Australia since the last year.
    
The frequent assaults on Indians have affected bilateral ties and have also hurt Australia's education sector.
    
The issue has been raised at the highest level by the Indian government, prompting Australia to launch a major damage control exercise.
    
"We regard ourselves... as a safe place where people - whether they come from India or elsewhere - can get a very good educational and Australian experience," Smith said.
    
"(We) will discuss Australia's and India's close cooperation in trying to solve the recent problems faced by some Indians in Australia," he said ahead of his visit.
    
Also on the agenda is the security concern for this year's Commonwealth Games following terror threats to it.
    
"I want to have conversations with relevant Indian ministers about the planning for Commonwealth Games... I'll also be inspecting some of the Commonwealth Games facilities".
    
Ilyas Kahmiri, the fugitive chief of PoK chapter of HuJi, had threatened to disrupt sporting events in India and asked foreign countries not to send players for Hockey World Cup, the IPL cricket tournament and the Commonwealth Games.
    
"It is a most regrettable fact of modern life that at any major sporting event... there is a threat of terrorist or other attack and we have to be absolutely vigilant."
    
"The conclusion we've come to... is we don't regard that threat as a credible threat," he added.
    
Smith said Australia was providing latest information on India's security situation to relevant parties. "It's a matter for individual athletes or sporting bodies to decide whether they take part (in competition) or not," he said.