Homeland Security

Pak must dismantle terror infrastructue: India

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, March 1, IRNA -- Keeping up the pressure on Pakistan to stop terrorist activities originating from its soil, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said Islamabad has to cooperate fully to bring to justice those responsible for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

"Pakistan must dismantle the infrastructure used by terrorist organizations in its territory to root out terrorism from the region," Mukherjee said while inaugurating an international conference on 'Cooperative development, peace and security in south and central Asia' at Kolkata on Sunday, Indian official media reported.

"Terrorism, extremism and fundamentalism are posing a serious threat in our region. The 26/11 attack is one more example of terrorism in our region," he said.

It is an imperative that all governments act to see terrorism rooted out, he said.

Pointing out that internal stability in the neighboring countries is in India's interest, Mukherjee said that growth and peace were related to development.

The minister said that physical connectivity, banking facilities and simplifying transit facilities were imperative for development of the region.

Physical connectivity of all SAARC countries and its observer countries like Myanmar are on the roadmap for increasing trade and ensuring development.

While the Kabul-Herat Road has been completed connecting Afghanistan to Iran in its West, work was on for a road connection to Myanmar and Thailand through Mizoram in the northeast of India, Mukherjee said.

On Nepal, where a Maoist government come into power after years of unrest in the Himalayan country, Mukherjee said, "We remain committed to supporting the government of Nepal and the transition to a democratic form of government."

Commenting on the Indo-Pak relations, he said, "The Mumbai terror attacks have placed the dialogue process with Pakistan in stress, but we have consciously decided not to discontinue people-to-people contact, rail and bus connections."

Saying India has friendly and cooperative relations with central Asian countries, the minister observed that the importance New Delhi puts on its cooperation with them is reflected in the fact that Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev was the chief guest at this year's Republic Day parade and celebrations in the national capital.

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End News / IRNA / News Code 376064