Dhaka: Bangladesh and India signed two deals on Monday to boost trade and discussed ways to prevent cross-border militant attacks, an official said.

The pacts on bilateral trade and investment were signed after meetings between foreign ministers Pranab Mukherjee of India and Dipu Moni of Bangladesh.

Mukherjee, on a short visit to Dhaka, said the deals would reduce the South Asian neighbours’ trade gap, which has soared to around $3 billion in favour of India.

“I am aware of the trade imbalance. Every time we discuss, we try to explore possibilities as to how that gap can be reduced. Surely what is possible is to reduce the gap and keep it within manageable limit,” Mukherjee said.

His Bangladeshi counterpart said the two sides had a “comprehensive discussion” on security issues, with Dhaka pledging not to allow its soil to be used by terror groups to attack India.

Mukherjee is the highest-ranked foreign official to visit Bangladesh since Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party won a landslide victory in Bangladesh’s general elections six weeks ago.