Pakistani groups planning fresh attacks: Manmohan

The area of operation of these terrorists today extends far beyond the confines of Jammu and Kashmir and covers all parts of our country.

Dr. Singh told the Chief Ministers that in dealing with the terrorist challenge, “we need to be prepared for encountering more sophisticated technologies and enhanced capabilities.” He emphasised the need for guarding the sea frontier as vigilantly as the land border.

The infiltrators appeared “more battle-hardened, better equipped, and in possession of sophisticated communications.

Dwelling on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister said there were signs of a revival of over-ground militant activities. Referring to incidents in Shopian, Sopore and Baramulla, he said such isolated incidents were sought to be linked to create an impression of a groundswell of anti-national feeling. “All this shows that efforts to disturb the current status quo have not been given up. Fortunately, the annual Amarnath Yatra passed off without incident.”

Expressing concern over the growing intensity of Left wing extremism, he admitted that the problem was indeed a complex one. “There is a need for a balanced and nuanced strategy to deal with it. On the one hand, the State should discharge its responsibilities and obligations and re-establish the rule of law in areas dominated by the naxalites. At the same time, we should work towards removing the causes which lead to alienation of people and problems like naxalism.”

Self-help is the best help

This is the first time that Pakistan has ever formally briefed us on the results of an investigation into a terrorist attack in India. It has never happened before and I repeat this is the first time. It is also the first time that they have admitted that their nationals and a terrorist organisation based in Pakistan carried out a ghastly terrorist act in India.

The reality is that this is far more than the NDA Government was ever able to extract from Pakistan during its entire tenure despite all their tall talk. They were never able to get Pakistan to admit what they have admitted now. So the UPA government needs no lessons from the opposition on how to conduct foreign affairs or secure our nation against terrorist threats.

I say with strength and conviction that dialogue and engagement is the best way forward.

I told them that the operations of all terrorist groups that threaten India must end permanently. I urged them to make no distinctions between different terrorist organizations. I said that it was not enough to say that Pakistan is itself a victim of terrorism. They must show the same political will and take the same strong and sustained action against terrorist groups operating on their eastern border as they now seem to be taking against groups on their western border.

I told them that another attack of this kind will put an intolerable strain on our relationship and that they must take all possible measures to prevent a recurrence.

I believe that it is as much in Pakistan’s vital interest as it is in ours to make peace. Pakistan must defeat terrorism, before being consumed by it. I believe the current leadership there understands the need for action.


We know this, but in the past there have been hurdles in a consistent pursuit of this path. As a result, the enemies of peace have flourished. They want to make our alienation permanent, the distance between our two countries an unbridgeable divide. In the interests of our people, and in the interest of peace and prosperity of South Asia, we must not let this happen.

Terrorism will not be allowed to destroy polity: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said forces of extremism and terrorism will not be allowed to destablise India and declared that the country will work with the international community to ensure there is no safe haven or launching pads for terrorists.

"We will not allow forces of extremism and terrorism to destablise our polity and society. We have taken several measures to strengthen our national security and promote national cohesion.

"We will continue to work with the international community to see that there is no safe haven or launching pads for terrorists," he said inaugurating the two-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Chennai.

The Prime Minister's remarks assume significance against the backdrop of his statement on Tuesday that Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba was behind the Mumbai terror attacks and given their sophistication and military precision, they must have had the support of some official agency of that
country.

Singh also deprecated the forces which seek to divide the people on the basis of religion and such other ideas saying they betrayed the idea of India.

Singh said despite the difficult global economic situation, the fundamentals of the Indian economy were very strong and that it was expected to grow at 7 per cent in the current year.

He said India was actively working with other countries in the evolution of a new economic architecture which, he maintained, should be reflective of the changes that have place over the years.

The Prime Minister said India should have the right to get its due place in the evolving global economy.

"We need to ensure that any new architecture that emerges is suited to the new challenges and vulnerabilities facing the world economy and reflective of the changes that have taken place in the economic structure. Countries like India should be given their due place in the scheme of things," he said.

Singh announced that that doctors, dentists, pharmacists, engineers, architects and chartered accountants, possessing the overseas citizenship cards issued by India, would be allowed to practice in the country.

Praising the achievements of the people of Indian origin around the world, he said they knew the meaning of tolerance and the art of living together regardless of caste, creed, religion or language.

"Pluralism and willingness to live with each other despite our differences is a deeply embedded trait of our culture. That is why I have often said that those who pursue the politics of exclusion, of monotheism, who divided people between us and them, betray the very idea of India. Our civilization was built on reason, on the willingness to engage in dialogue," he said.

Chennai (PTI): Talking tough, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said forces of extremism and terrorism will not be allowed to destablise the economy and polity of India and promised to work with global community to ensure that there are no safe havens or launching pads for terrorists.

Observing that the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai were a grim reminder of the grave threat posed by extremism and terrorism, he said "there are some who would not like to see India succeed.

"But we have shown, over and over again, that we will not allow the forces of terrorism and extremism to destabilize our polity, our economy and our society," Singh said inaugurating the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas here.

The Prime Minister's observation comes close on heels of his stern warning to Pakistan against using terrorism as an instrument of state policy.

"We have taken several measures to strengthen national security, to promote national cohesion and we will continue to work with the international community to ensure that there are no safe havens and launching pads for terrorists," Singh told the galaxy of people of Indian origin gathered here for the annual event.

The Prime Minister's remarks assume significance against the backdrop of his statement that Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba was behind the Mumbai terror attacks and given their sophistication and military precision, they must have had the support of some official agencies of that country.

Singh also deprecated the forces which seek to divide the people on the basis of religion.

"Those who pursue the politics of exclusion, of monotheism, who divide people between 'us' and 'them', betray the very idea of India," he said "we have been consensual civilization".

Singh also voiced New Delhi's concern over the rise in tensions in West Asia in the wake of attack in Gaza by Israeli security forces resulting in the loss of lives of many innocent men, women and children.

India, he said, has strongly condemned these incidents and hoped that the international community would get together and help restore "peace in the region as soon as possible".

"I wish to reiterate our unstinted and unwavering support for the just Palestinian cause", Singh said.

Addressing over 1,500 delegates from across the world, the Prime Minister assured the PIOs that despite the global economic downturn, the fundamentals of Indian economy continued to remain strong and "we expect to achieve a growth rate of about seven per cent this year, which will be among the highest in the world".

He said much of India's growth was internally driven and he expected that a strong pace of growth could be maintained in the coming years.

India was actively involved in the meetings of the G-20 countries which were deliberating on the creation of a new global financial structure, Singh said.

"We need to ensure that any new architecture that emerges is suited to the new challenges and vulnerabilities facing the world economy and simultaneously it must be reflective of the changes that have taken place in the economic structure over the years," he said.

Singh emphasised that countries like India have a right to be given their due place in the evolving scheme of things.

The overseas Indian community, particularly in the US, came in for special praise by the Prime Minister who said they played a key role in mobilising Congressional support for lifting restrictions to end India's nuclear isolation of last 34 years.

"But much more importantly, this is a sign of the growing role that Indian origin communities are now playing in public policies and opinion making across the world," he said.