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Abandon double standards to fight against terror: K C Pant
Washington, Nov 22: The global war against terrorism can be won only by abandoning double standards and ensuring that the fight against the scourge is not a cloak for a political, military or economic agenda, Chairman of Planning Commission and member of the National Security Council K C Pant said.
Washington, Nov 22: The global war against
terrorism can be won only by abandoning double standards and
ensuring that the fight against the scourge is not a cloak for
a political, military or economic agenda, Chairman of Planning
Commission and member of the National Security Council K C
Pant said.
Pant, who was speaking to American foreign policy
analysts, said that effective cooperation will come about
only when double standards are abandoned and the war on
terrorism is not sacrificed "at the altar of short-term
political, military or economic considerations".
It is futile to talk of good and bad terrorists, Pant emphasized, pointing out that "in over twenty years of tackling a variety of terrorist challenges, fomented and supported for the most part from across our borders, India has lost nearly 65,000 of its citizens to this menace."
India, he said, has combated terrorism while maintaining civil liberties for the most part, emphasizing religious tolerance and preserving her cultural diversity.
"We also realise," he said, "that it is precisely because of this that we are the prime targets. But, at the same time, we are determined not to be thrown off course in spite of the worst that the terrorists and their state sponsors can do." "Our message to the world on this is a simple one. Terrorism inevitably finds fertile ground in totalitarian military and theocratic regimes and it is here that international resources have to be concentrated if this menace is to be weeded out," Pant said.
The talk of 'root causes' of terrorism is nothing but a cloak for the political and agenda of military dictatorships and religious extremists, he said.
India and the United States, he said, need each other to deal with the twin threats of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. "Both of us agree that these threats have to be fought together, not alone. Indo-US cooperation is vital to security, stability and development of people not only in our two countries but of the whole world."
Pant said he is happy to affirm that Indo-US relations have entered a phase of warmth and realism. Prime Minister Vajpayee has described India and the US as natural partners. The relationship has been transformed significantly and substantially over the last few years. However, challenges remain for better management of relations given the different geostrategic and economic contexts and occasional differences of perspectives.
"Our approach," said Pant, "seeks to deal with these differences in a positive manner by emphasizing the enduring and larger common strands that run through our bilateral relationship." Bureau Report
It is futile to talk of good and bad terrorists, Pant emphasized, pointing out that "in over twenty years of tackling a variety of terrorist challenges, fomented and supported for the most part from across our borders, India has lost nearly 65,000 of its citizens to this menace."
India, he said, has combated terrorism while maintaining civil liberties for the most part, emphasizing religious tolerance and preserving her cultural diversity.
"We also realise," he said, "that it is precisely because of this that we are the prime targets. But, at the same time, we are determined not to be thrown off course in spite of the worst that the terrorists and their state sponsors can do." "Our message to the world on this is a simple one. Terrorism inevitably finds fertile ground in totalitarian military and theocratic regimes and it is here that international resources have to be concentrated if this menace is to be weeded out," Pant said.
The talk of 'root causes' of terrorism is nothing but a cloak for the political and agenda of military dictatorships and religious extremists, he said.
India and the United States, he said, need each other to deal with the twin threats of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. "Both of us agree that these threats have to be fought together, not alone. Indo-US cooperation is vital to security, stability and development of people not only in our two countries but of the whole world."
Pant said he is happy to affirm that Indo-US relations have entered a phase of warmth and realism. Prime Minister Vajpayee has described India and the US as natural partners. The relationship has been transformed significantly and substantially over the last few years. However, challenges remain for better management of relations given the different geostrategic and economic contexts and occasional differences of perspectives.
"Our approach," said Pant, "seeks to deal with these differences in a positive manner by emphasizing the enduring and larger common strands that run through our bilateral relationship." Bureau Report