'Security intertwined with running of business in country'

New Delhi, Feb 12 (PTI) Holding that terrorists from Pakistan targeted Mumbai to hit India's economy, the Indian Government Thursday said it is fully aware that security was not only of paramount importance but deeply intertwined with the running of business in the country.

"The government is fully aware and seized of the fact
that security is not only of paramount importance in the life
of the nation but is also deeply intertwined to the running of
business in our country," External Affairs Minister Pranab
Mukherjee said.

"And that is why terrorists from Pakistan chose
targets that included centres of business and global corporate
vistas to Mumbai," he said in the inaugural address to the
81st Annual General Meeting of FICCI.

Underlining that a comprehensive approach needs to be
taken to counter the multi-dimensional challenges of
terrorism, he said "the Mumbai attack of 26/11 was only the
most recent and the most gruesome example of this scourge of
terrorism that needs to be tackled in a resolute manner".

Mukherjee said the government had taken a large number of
measures and significant steps to strengthen the apparatus for
dealing with the multiple and emerging challenges to national
and internal security.

Listing several initiatives taken to fight terrorism,
Mukherjee said regional hubs of the National Security Guards
will be set up in four major metros in a time-bound manner.

He said the laws to deal with terrorism have been amended
while care has been taken to ensure against any possible
misuse and a National Investigation Agency has been set up to
deal with terror crimes.

"After a detailed and careful review, strengthening of
the mechanism for gathering analysis and real-time sharing of
intelligence and coordination among different agencies of the
Centre and the states is being effected," Mukherjee said.

Quoting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said "we will
spare no effort to deal with terrorist and insurgent groups
operating from neighbouring countries. We are determined to
put an end to terrorism sponsored from across the border with
all the means at our command."

Mukherjee noted that the Prime Minister had also chaired
a meeting of Chief Ministers on Internal Security to devise
measures to integrate the fight against all forms of terror,
including the problem of naxalites and insurgency in the North
Eastern region.

The issue of police reforms is also being pursued in
right earnest, he said.

"The objective of all these initiatives is to integrate
and strengthen the different elements comprising the overall
apparatus to fight terrorism and other threats to our
internal security," Mukherjee said. PTI SKU
PMR