`Global community should act agst terror emanating from Pak`

New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) Calling terror emanating from
Pakistan as a "Frankenstein", India Tuesday said the
international community needs to act decisively and in concert
to get rid of this scourge.

"There is equally an onus on the international community
to act. This Frankenstein is now a threat to democracy,
stability and peace in Afghanistan and to Pakistan itself. The
international community needs to act decisively and in concert
to get rid of this scourge.

"We sincerely hope that this approach would be the way
ahead. As a victim of terrorism, we must remain committed to
safeguarding the lives of our nationals and to taking all the
necessary steps to enhance and safeguard our security," Indian
Defence Minister A K Antony said Tuesday.

He was delivering the inaugural address at the 11th Asian
Security Conference on 'The Changing Face of Conflict and
Evolving Strategies in Asia' organised by the Institute of
Defence Studies and Analyses.

Antony said the prospects of inter-state armed conflicts
were indeed declining but India and the Asian continent
continued to face the challenge of terrorism. "Pakistan has
become the epicentre of international terrorism."

He said the assault on Mumbai and many previous attacks
on Indian cities over the past few years have gravely
undermined peace and security. Afghanistan has a victim of
similar acts as indeed have been other countries.

The Defence Minister said that the major attacks of
large magnitude could be planned and executed by elements in
Pakistan which has totally undermined the solemn commitments
made by its leadership to India that territory in its control
would not be permitted to be used for terrorism.

The positive gains of the past years, he said, had been
destroyed by the dastardly attack on Mumbai. "Onus is now on
Government of Pakistan to act with sincerity and decisiveness
against the perpetrators and controllers of such attacks."

He said this was in the interest of the region and the
rest of the world that such perpetrators of wanton violence
were brought to justice and the infrastructure of terror was
eliminated.

Referring to the Mumbai attack and the systematic use of
terrorism and irregular warfare as state policy aimed at
India, he said it was becoming increasingly clear that the
nature of war and conflict was changing.

All-out wars were no longer the norm for settling
disputes among states, he said adding the rapid globalisation
of recent years had led to profound changes by creating
inter-dependence among states and people.

In an apparent reference to Pakistan without naming it,
he said conflicts may occur in such a situation only if
particular regimes facing internal economic and political
problems unleash nationalism and war against external 'enemy'
to rally popular support.

The Minister said Asia unfortunately does have a number
of unsettled territorial and sovereignty disputes and these
can be manipulated by irresponsible states to ensure regime
stability.

Antony stressed that the international community needs to
have both internal and external checks and balances against
possible abuses of power by such regimes.

Citing Indo-Chinese relationship as an example, Antony
said that many states have agreed to set aside their disputes
that can't be resolved immediately and maintain status quo.

"They have encouraged a system of dialogue and
negotiations to peacefully resolve these disputes. And they
are focused on enhancing cooperation," he said.

The Defence Minister said that civil wars, insurgencies
and militancy have become the principal modes of armed
conflict today and have made many Asian states extremely
unstable and fragile.

"Dealing with these complex challenges through efficient
and improved governance and effective development strategies
must be of the highest importance for Asian nations," he said.
PTI