Ankara, Sept 16: Describing international terrorism as a "global monster", Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today flayed the "selective approach" and differing standards of some countries in combating the menace.
He also dismissed the western belief that Islam was a source of terrorism. "We cannot afford selective approaches which sacrifice the long-term interests. Differing standards cannot be applied for judging terrorism," he said in a wide-ranging interview with Turkish daily "News".

Vajpayee expressed concern over the situation in Iraq, regrouping of Taliban in Afghanistan and dismissed suggestions that India had abandoned the Palestinians for Israel. He said international terrorism "is today a global monster which knows no national boundaries or territorial limits of operations."

"It exploits the openness and freedom of democratic societies. It uses modern technologies and unorthodox techniques to achieve its destructive objectives," the Prime Minister said.


The menace of terrorism could be countered only by global, united and comprehensive effort, he added. Bureau Report