Date:03/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/03/stories/2009010351210300.htm

National

Steps will be taken to check cross-border terrorism: Minister

Staff Reporter

Taking action against terrorists is a big challenge for Pakistan, he says

Bilateral relations hit a new low due to the latest terrorist attacks
Intelligence networks being strengthened

Kakinada: India has maintained utmost restraint in spite of the building up of war hysteria by Pakistan in the wake of recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Any other country would have attacked the enemy had it faced such a contingency, unlike India which had been enduring external aggression for a long time without seeking war. India would take necessary action to protect itself from cross-border terrorism being funded by Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) if that country fails in taking tangible action, said Union Minister of State for Defence and Kakinada MP M.M Pallam Raju.

Addressing a press conference at his residence here on Friday, Mr. Pallam Raju said taking concrete action against terrorists was a big challenge for Pakistan too as its civilian power centre was the weakest one among its multiple power centres. Pakistan Army, ISI and Taliban are the ones who call the shots leaving little scope for civilian government to assert itself. It is therefore imperative that Pakistan should not merely talk but act tough against terrorists whose victims include former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Mr. Pallam Raju said India has successfully built up international pressure on Pakistan to follow up its words in deeds based on clear evidences of the origin of terrorists from camps located in its territories.

The bilateral relations hit a new low due to the latest terrorist attacks but India did not want to aggravate the volatile situation by striking belligerent postures. India expected Pakistan to behave as a responsible nation, which it did not despite having been furnished enough evidence of the terrorists operating from its soil.

Asked to comment on the threat from terrorist modules thriving in India with the covert support of Pakistan, Mr. Pallam Raju said the Intelligence networks, including coastal security apparatus, were being strengthened and efforts were on to provide them modern weapons at the earliest.

Similarly, coastal surveillance systems were being spruced up to meet future contingencies. A close watch was kept on infiltrations from Jammu and Kashmir and the porous borders with Bangladesh.