India Says Military Action Is Not Only Option to Fight TerrorismNew Delhi said on Thursday that military action was only one of many options and not the final determinant in fight against terrorism.A day after Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf announced unstinted cooperation with Washington, Indian External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh told a press conference here that the international community has to fight against terrorism on several fronts which would require a lot of stamina. On the planned military operation by the United States in response to the terrorist attacks on World Trade Center and the Pentagon last week, the minister said military action was only for a select purpose. "The global effort against terrorism can not be unidimensional as terrorism envelops the whole of 360 degree," Singh declared, adding that this would be a long term affair. Singh, who also holds the portfolio as defence minister, announced that he was scheduled to visit the U.S. at the end of this month or early October for consultations with American leaders on measures to fight global terrorism. New Delhi claimed that India has been a victim of terrorism, specially cross-border terrorism from Pakistan and elsewhere for last two decades. "The Prime Minister (Atal Behari Vajpayee) has told me that till a clear picture emerges in the region, it would not be advisable for you to go out of the country. That is why I have postponed my visit to USA," he told the press conference. Immediately after the terrorist strikes in the U.S., Singh had talks with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell who, the minister said, had invited him to visit Washington. India has been holding consultations with many countries including Iran, Turkey, Canada, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia on the issue of joint strategy against terrorism. "Now some countries have understood" the position of the South Asian country, which Singh said had been fighting against terrorism for the last 20 years. He promised to give help to all in the fight against terrorism as per its capability. He made it clear that Washington has not sought permission from India to use any of its military bases in the possible operations against terrorists in Afghanistan. The Time of India reported on Wednesday that even though no military plans had been firmed up by Washington for retaliatory strikes, Indian had identified three air bases for a possible operational support to the U.S.. "Neither U.S. has sought permission for use of Indian military bases nor India has offered any of its bases to U.S. for use of its forces," he said categorically. Indian officials have promised full cooperation with the U.S. unconditionally but, they admitted, no specific request had been made by Washington on the nature of assistance it sought from the South Asian country. Singh seized the occasion to hit back at Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, charging Islamabad with continuing support to cross-border terrorism in Kashmir while proclaiming support to global fight against the menace. He disclosed that Indian intelligence agencies had received several "inputs" regarding an "appeal" issued by Taliban supreme Mulla Mohammed Omar to all terrorist groups that are currently operating in Kashmir to "quickly move" out towards Afghanistan to assist the militia against impending American military strikes. |
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