PM calls for zero tolerance to terrorism

HELSINKI: Without naming Pakistan, PM Manmohan Singh on Friday advocated an international norm of “zero tolerance” to terrorism saying it would send the right signal to the “countries directly engaged” in perpetrating the menace or allowing their territories to be used by terrorists.

Addressing the India-EU summit here, Mr Singh referred to the recent Mumbai blasts and earlier bombings in London and Madrid and said these reminded the world that terrorism “remains the most serious threat to democratic, open and pluralistic countries”.

He told the European Union leaders that strengthening international cooperation in this critical area is of vital importance to all free and democratic societies.“An international norm of zero tolerance against terrorism will send the right signal to those countries directly engaged in terrorism or which are allowing their territories to be used for terrorist purposes,” Mr Singh said in an obvious reference to Pakistan. The comment assumes significance as India has been impressing upon Pakistan to end cross-border terrorism and dismantle terrorist infrastructure existing on territories under its control.

Even in the recent Mumbai blasts, investigations have revealed involvement of ISI and Pakistan-based terror groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba. Meanwhile, in an interview to a Finnish newspaper, Singh hoped Pakistan will “seriously work with us” to “uproot terrorism” as agreed in Havana by president Pervez Musharraf during a meeting with him. “The current dialogue is based on president Musharraf’s commitment made in January ’04 to guarantee that Pakistan will not allow any kind of terrorist activities in its territory,” Mr Singh told Suomen Kuvalehti newspaper.

He also ruled out any discussion on “moving borders” but said India was ready to talk about all issues pertaining to relations between two countries, including Jammu and Kashmir. “We have to create a situation in which it is irrelevant on which side of the border the inhabitants of the area live, because goods as well as people can move freely,” Mr Singh said.

“That is the job of the two governments and it is the only alternative,” he said when asked to respond to Musharraf’s proposal for self-rule on both sides of line of control.