Member nations should do utmost to counter terror: C`wealth

Ajay Kaul

New Delhi, Feb 8 (PTI) In a veiled message to Pakistan,
Commonwealth has asked it to do its utmost to counter
terrorism and collaborate in this regard with other member
countries.

Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma said he
expects bilateral dialogue process between India and Pakistan,
which has been suspended in the wake of Mumbai attacks, to go
on so that the two countries settle their issues amicably.

The 53-nation grouping of former British colonies is
working to evolve a convention providing for cooperation among
all member countries to defeat terrorism whose threat to the
world is growing.

"Terrorism is an idea in which collaboration and
cooperation should take place," Sharma, who was here on a
visit, told PTI in an interview.

Asked what message the Commonwealth has for Pakistan
which is said to have become the epicentre of global
terrorism, he said "I have no message for Pakistan different
from my message to all member states -- all of them (should)
contribute to collective stance of doing the utmost, which
every state can, in counter terrorism and to strengthen, in
collaboration with each other, internal capacity to do so."
Pakistan is a member of the Commonwealth.

Sharma noted that terrorism is one of the issues which
leaders of the Commonwealth countries have agreed that the
grouping "should play a role in because it is a global
phenomenon of concern to all the members."

In this area, the Commonwealth seeks to introduce value
and benefit which come from its own memberships and its own
strengths, the chief of the grouping said.

He said all member countries should try and implement
the new plan of action against terrorism which the
Commonwealth is working to evolve.

The plan of action concentrates on capacity building,
information-sharing, legislation, training etc, he said.

The Commonwealth chief said the plan of action is
expected to be unveiled after thorough consultations and
assessment on the nature and scope of threat.

On the prospects of convention taking concrete shape,
Sharma said it is possible if leaders decide so.

Noting that leaders of Commonwealth countries had
expressed interest for having a convention against terrorism.
"The question is whether if they want to lift it at the
political level and how much and what kind of mandate.

Asked to comment on the Indo-Pak chill in the wake of
Mumbai attacks, the Commonwealth Secretary General said the
two countries have a process of a dialogue and "our
expectation is that process will carry on and issues between
them will be amicably resolved."

When pointed out that the dialogue between India and
Pakistan had been suspended because of Mumbai attacks, he
refused to be drawn into it saying, "Commonwealth regards it
as a bilateral issue between two member states and we don't
come into picture."

Commenting on internal developments of Pakistan, he said
the Commonwealth is "extremely encouraged" by the fact that
constitutional democracy was restored there. "It was my
pleasure to invite them back into Commonwealth."

He said Commonwealth had sent a team to Pakistan after
restoration of democracy to see where the multi-nation
grouping could have a role.

Pakistan was suspended from Commonwealth membership in
November 2007 after the then President Pervez Musharraf failed
to lift emergency as promised. PTI