India not for any selective approach to terrorism: Krishna

Anil K Joseph
Kabul, Jul 20 (PTI) India Tuesday firmly said there
cannot be any selective approach in fighting terrorism and
sought an end to sustenance and sanctuaries for terrorists
from outside Afghanistan, a veiled reference to terror camps
in Pakistan.
New Delhi also said that any new process to stabilise the
war-torn Afghanistan must be fully "Afghan-led and
Afghan-owned" where violence is given up and all links with
terrorism--whether 'jehadi' or state-sponsored--cut off.
The international community should ensure that there is
no selectivity in dealing with terrorism, Indian External
Affairs Minister S M Krishna said in a statement at the
international conference on Afghanistan. He supported the
Afghan peace process which, he said, should be "inclusive and
transparent."
"Terrorism cannot be compartmentalised. Today, one cannot
distinguish between al-Qaeda and plethora of terrorist
organisations which have imbibed the goals and techniques of
al-Qaeda.
"It is therefore, essential to ensure that support,
sustenance and sanctuaries for terrorist organisations from
outside Afghanistan are ended forthwith," he told the
delegates, including his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood
Qureshi who was among the 30-odd Foreign Ministers present at
the meet. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was also
present at the meet attended by 70 countries.
He said the new process to stabilise the war-torn country
must carry all sections of the nation's population.
Describing India and Afghanistan as "historic friends,"
Krishna said New Delhi has contributed to this country's
efforts in nation-building and reconstruction "entirely in
accordance with the priorities of the Afghan government and
people."
"The international community must learn lessons from past
experiences at negotiating with fundamentalist and extremist
organisations and ensure that any peace process is conducted
in an inclusive and transparent manner," Krishna said.
"India also supports Afghanistan's efforts towards peace
and reintegration. But for such effort to succeed, it must be
fully Afghan-led and Afghan-owned and carry all sections of
Afghanistan's population together as well as abide by the
redlines agreed to at the London Conference," he said.
The London Conference on Afghanistan, he noted, had
emphasised on giving up violence, cutting off all links with
terrorism – whether 'jehadi' or state-sponsored – and
accepting the democratic and pluralistic values of the Afghan
Constitution, including women's rights. PTI