The Hindu : `Deal with terrorism on war-footing'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 22, 2002

International

International

`Deal with terrorism on war-footing'

Rome Sept. 21. Islamabad should not mistake New Delhi's restraint as a sign of ``weakness or indecision,'' the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, has said and called for greater international cooperation, especially among "threatened democracies," to combat terrorism on a war-footing.

Addressing a seminar on `The Security Scenario' here, Mr. Fernandes said ``the attempts by terrorists to disrupt the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir illustrated the fear that democracy generated among them.''

The Minister, on a five-day official visit to Italy, said Indians had been facing international terrorism for the last several decades. "Over the last decades, we have faced a particular pernicious mutation of this phenomenon — that of state-supported, cross-border terrorism. A proxy war or low intensity conflict has been waged against the Indian State and society. The resilience of our democratic polity and strong secular structure, besides the professionalism of our armed forces, have helped us withstand these challenges,'' he said.

In an apparent reference to the United States treating Pakistan as a ``stalwart ally'' in the fight against global terrorism, Mr. Fernandes regretted that the distinction made between terrorists by the international community had dampened the war against terrorism. "It is foolish to believe that there are good terrorists. Those that use terror as a means to achieve their political ends and states that support them should be ostracised, not rewarded.''

On regional security, Mr. Fernandes said Pakistan's ``implacable hostility'' towards India and its unwillingness to rein in cross-border terrorism was fraught with danger. ``We continue to hope that Pakistan will see the damage that terrorism is doing to its own society, but we also remain prepared to deal with any further aggression.'' India had taken several initiatives to convince Pakistan about its hope for a common and peaceful future only to be rewarded each time with new forms of aggression. "We also believe that a non-hegemonic regional Asian order is essential for all countries in Asia to achieve their full potential. We would consider attempts by any power to seek hegemony over the continent a serious challenge to our security,'' he said.

The impressive turnout in the first phase of elections in Kashmir had falsified the Pakistani claims that Muslims of the State were Pakistanis by definition, and therefore, Kashmir was a Pakistani territory.

Giving a major boost to bilateral cooperation, India and Italy decided to hold joint defence exercises and identified many areas of defence collaboration, including joint ventures. The decision was taken at a meeting between Mr. Fernandes and his Italian counterpart, Antonio Martino.

"We have identified many areas of defence collaboration, including setting up of joint enterprises. We have also decided to hold joint exercises by the Army and by the ships of our respective Navies and Coast Guards,'' Mr. Fernandes said. Joint exercises in high altitude warfare would also be conducted in the Alpine region and the mountain ranges in the Himalayas by the Army of both the countries.sThe two Ministers also agreed to conclude a Collaboration Agreement, presently being examined by the two Defence General Staff, that would pave the way for fresh initiatives like staff training, exchange of experiences and joint exercises.

"There is a shared interest to intensify the existing collaborations and to find further forms of participation of Italian industries in the modernisation plans of the Indian Armed Forces, as also through proper synergetic modalities with interested Indian firms,'' a statement released by the Indian Embassy in Rome said. — UNI

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