Terrorism biggest threat to Saarc

Indian Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh yesterday used the Saarc platform to take on Pakistan over terrorism saying it posses the biggest challenge to peace the region.

Addressing the Saarc home ministers conference in Islamabad on Thursday, Rajnath Singh said no type of terrorism or support to it could be justified and called for immediate and effective action against all those who support or encourage international terrorism, "whether state actors or non-state actors".

Though Singh took care not to name Pakistan, he left little scope for doubt that it was indeed the country on his mind as he called for isolation of all those who provide support, encouragement, sanctuary, safe haven or any assistance to terrorism or terrorists.

"Strongest possible steps need to be taken not only against terrorists and terrorist organisations but also those individuals, institutions, organisations or nations that support them," he told the Saarc conference where the home ministers of Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka were absent.

"Only then justice will be ensured for the victims of terrorist attacks such as in Mumbai and Pathankot. We must have the approach of 'zero tolerance' against any type of terrorism," he stated.

Making it a point to mention Pathankot terror strike alongside the "cowardly terrorist attacks" in Dhaka and Kabul, the home minister said terrorism poses the biggest challenge to peace in the Saarc region.

Singh also needled Pakistan on its decision to confer "martyr" status to Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani, killed by the Indian security forces in an encounter at Anantnag, Jammu & Kashmir, last month. "

"It also needs to be ensured that terrorism is not glorified and is not patronized by any state. One country's terrorist cannot be a martyr or freedom fighter for anyone. I also speak for the entire humanity - not just for India or other Saarc members - in urging that in no circumstances should terrorists be eulogised as martyrs," he said.

The home minister said merely strong condemnation of such terrorist attacks was not enough and required hardened resolve and serious steps on part of the Saarc states to eradicate the menace.

Among other issues of regional importance raised by Rajnath Singh in his address at Islamabad were exploring avenues to fight cyber-crime and its linkages with the terrorist world. Pointing to online radicalisation, Singh called for efforts to ensure that social media and other modern technology is not misused to radicalise youth or promote terrorism.

He appreciated support of all Saarc members to New Delhi's proposal to host the second meeting of the high-level Group of Eminent Experts to Strengthen the Saarc Anti-Terrorism Mechanism on September 22 & 23 in New Delhi.

Singh also sought immediate ratification of Saarc Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

Other issues taken up by Singh were measures to counter drug trafficking and circulation of fake Indian currency notes. "There is also a felt need to achieve the full potential of the Saarc Terrorist Offences Monitoring Desk and the Saarc Drug Offences Monitoring Desk," he said.