Act against terrorists and we will stand by you: Rajnath tells Pak
Rajnath said the Pathankot strike and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks signified a tectonic shift for India but the country was fully equipped and prepared to deal with cross-border and any other kind of terrorism.
Home minister Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday the Indian government will stand by Pakistan if it takes decisive action against terrorists and their organisations, in remarks that came a month after a deadly attack on Punjab’s Pathankot airbase that led to suspension of talks between the foreign secretaries.
Singh said following the attack the government was reviewing its counter-terrorism approach and working on a national strategy to achieve seamless coordination between all security agencies.
“Most terror attacks on India emanate from Pakistan and it has to show some sincerity and take concrete steps to rein in various terror groups operating against India from its soil,” the minister said Singh while delivering the valedictory speech at the Counter Terrorism Conference 2016 in Jaipur.
“If Pakistan takes concrete action against terrorists on its territory it will not only improve the bilateral ties of the two countries but also bring peace and stability in the South Asian region.”
Singh said the Pathankot strike and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks signified a tectonic shift for India but the country was fully equipped and prepared to deal with cross-border and any other kind of terrorism.
He also underlined the threat posed by the “Do it Yourself” breed of terrorists who gain information in bomb-making and suicide attacks over the internet to carry out terror strikes.
“Exploiting the power of internet and ideological motivation, terror groups like DAESH (Islamic State) and al Qaeda have already flooded the internet with literature pertaining to bomb making and suicide attacks which present a risk of emergence of ‘DIY’ (Do it Yourself) terrorists,” he said.
The home minister said India has undertaken multiple steps and strategies to combat the radicalisation of its youth by terrorist ideology.
“On the one hand we have successfully de-radicalised our youth and on the other hand our security agencies have also taken action against certain individuals for their links and association with terror organisations,” Singh said.
His comments came against the backdrop of a nationwide crackdown by the National Investigation Agency this month on alleged Islamic State militants and sympathisers, during which the self-appointed India head of the group was also held.
(With inputs from agencies)
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