INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION NEEDED TO FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM: UNION HOME MINISTER

WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE AND COHERENT COUNTER-TERRORISM STRATEGY: CM RAJE

The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has said that India has been a victim of cross-border terrorism for the last several decades and terror outfits do not recognize national boundaries. Terrorist activities are carried out through the networks spread over several countries; therefore, there is no alternative but to build international cooperation to effectively counter terrorism. Such cooperation is required in the field of intelligence sharing also, he said.

The Union Home Minister was addressing the inaugural session of the ‘Counter Terrorism Conference-2015’ here at Hotel Marriott on Thursday. The three day conference is being organized jointly by Sardar Patel University of Police Security & Criminal Justice, Jodhpur and India Foundation. He said international cooperation is needed to build popular opinion and pressurize the countries which are using terrorists as their strategy asset.

Addressing the inaugural session Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje said India has vast experience in fighting terrorism and other insurgencies over a variety of terrain. Cross-border terrorism involving external and internal groups as well as various insurgencies have been active here. “Even as we guard against dangers from abroad, we cannot neglect the daunting challenge of terrorism from within our borders”, she said.

The Chief Minister said that the ISIS now represents one of the most serious terrorist threats being faced by the humanity. This terror outfit has shown its brutality by butchering hostages. The sophisticated use of the internet and social media indicates that they have a significant propaganda reach right across the world. The threat ISIS presents to us is clear and serious, but is not the only threat we face. There is Boko Haram in Nigeria, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, related organizations in Libya, Al Shabaab in East Africa, LET and other terrorist’s organizations planning attacks from across the border, and home-grown extremists who have been radicalized here in India.

Smt. Raje said some of these organizations may sound remote and distant, but each one of them has ambitions to strike at our citizens and our interests and national security. So this is a struggle that is being fought on many fronts and in many forms. We therefore need a counter-terrorism strategy that is comprehensive and coherent, one that has international cooperation as the fundamental principle.

The Chief Minister said no economy is insulated from such threats. Terrorism continuous to pose a global threat that is becoming increasingly complex and dynamic. This threat is not new, but technology and the Internet have increased its frequency and lethality. Smt. Raje said there should be no distinction between terrorist groups. It is important that countries and institutions work together to ensure infrastructure and citizens are secure from terrorism. Such action, in my view, requires a multipronged approach.

The Chief Minister said it is important that countries and institutions work together to ensure infrastructure and citizens are secure from terrorism. Such action requires a multipronged approach. It is extremely important that within nations, disparities between ethnic groups, communities and regions do not come in way while providing access to opportunities and resources.

Home Minister Shri Gulab Chand Kataria said we all have to collectively face the challenge posed by the terror activities.

In the beginning Vice Chancellor of Sardar Patel University of Police Security and Criminal Justice Shri M. L. Kumawat welcomed the guests and the participating delegates. Former Chief of Army Staff General V. P. Malik and other dignitaries were present in the inaugural session.

Jaipur, 19 March. 2015