The Hindu : PM calls for 'united' fight against terror

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 14, 2002

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PM calls for 'united' fight against terror

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON OCT 13. The Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, has called upon the international community to lead a united fight against terror, citing the blast in Bali as a chilling `reminder' of the threat posed by extremists.

It was a common responsibility of all nations to support each other in "ridding the world of this cancer'', he said shortly before he left London for home this morning after a week-long European visit.

He wanted world leaders to regard all acts of terrorism as equally dangerous and emphasised that there should be no `conflicting' views on the issue.

In a pointed reference to what New Delhi regards as the west's inadequate response to Indian concerns over cross-border terrorism, the Prime Minister said: "Unfortunately, the problem is that western countries regard the threat they themselves face from terrorists as more serious. They don't attach the same seriousness to the threat we have to deal with. There are double standards even in measuring terrorism."

Mr. Vajpayee said the Bali violence was "inspired by religious extremists''. Later, speaking to a private Indian TV channel, he said it was clear that terrorism was a ''global problem''.

``There can be no conflicting views on the issue of terrorism or its perception,'' he said, alluding again to India's unhappiness over western perceptions of terrorism.

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