India seeks global help to fight terrorism
India seeks global help to fight terrorism
India has sent several high-level parliamentary delegations to
various parts of the world including Southeast Asia to explain
New Delhi's point of view and to seek support in building a
global response to fight terrorism. The five-member delegation,
headed by Mohammad Anwarul Haque, visited Indonesia from Feb. 5
to Feb. 7 and met several Indonesian leaders including President
Megawati Soekarnoputri. Haque gave a special interview to The
Jakarta Post. The following are the excerpts of the interview:
Question: Within a span of four months, two of the world's big
nations -- U.S. and India -- have become the victims of
terrorism. Could you tell us about India's experience of
terrorism?
Mohammad Anwarul Haque: India is no stranger to terrorism and
we have experienced this reality for several years. The terrorist
attack on the Indian Parliament on Dec. 13 was remarkable only in
terms of being an assault on the very heart of Indian democracy.
While India has mobilized all its resources (to fight
terrorism), within the constraints of a democratic society, to
meet the challenge we face from terrorism, we have always held
the view that terrorism is not merely India's problem but that it
has a global dimension.
Q: The Dec. 13 terrorist attack on Indian Parliament has shocked
the entire world and India earned the sympathy and support of
several nations. What steps has India taken to deal with the
aftermath of attack?
M: India has taken a number of decisive and tough measures to
deal with the aftermath of the attack. As a democracy we need to
temper the measures we take with scrupulous observance of human
rights and the law of the land.
Furthermore, we have sought to engage friendly countries all
over the world in a global effort to counter the menace of
terrorism.
India has taken the initiative for the conclusion of an
international convention against terrorism, which is currently
under discussion at the United Nations. We are also actively
seeking cooperation from a large number of like-minded countries,
including Indonesia.
Q: It is reported that the Indian government has sent several
high-level parliamentary delegations to various regions. Since
you have visited several Southeast Asian countries, what response
have you had from those countries?
M: Yes, several high-level delegations have visited friendly
countries to explain our point of view and to seek support and
cooperation in fashioning a global response to international
terrorism. We are happy that in all the countries we have visited
so far, including Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia, the response
has been very positive indeed.
Q: What is the main objective of your visit to Indonesia?
M: The main objective of our visit to Indonesia is to bring the
message of friendship and a desire for enhanced cooperation
between our two countries in number of areas. Like India,
Indonesia, too, is a multireligious, multiethnic plural society.
Like Indonesia our national motto, too, is Unity in Diversity.
Since independence, Indonesia like India, has had to tackle
terrorist violence linked to separatist tendencies, often
encouraged and supported by external forces. Therefore, there is
every reason for us to cooperate closely in the global fight
against terrorism. We have long been its victims; and we have a
common stake in preserving our national identity as plural
societies, where different races, religions and traditions
coexist peacefully. This is what is under attack today from the
forces of extremism.
Q: Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has overhauled his
country's policy toward Kashmir and taken several daring measures
to curb the activities of the Kashmiri militants. He has
expressed his desire to talk directly to Indian Prime Minister
Atal Behari Vajpayee to find a solution to the Kashmir issue. How
do you react to President Musharraf's efforts to curb militancy
inside Pakistan and his peace offer?
M: Pakistan has taken steps to curb militancy inside Pakistan for
domestic reasons, but if by doing so there is an end to cross-
border terrorism, we would welcome it. However, we have to wait
and see the situation on the ground, whether there is really a
decrease in such activity and finally its complete cessation. So
far, we have seen little evidence that there is a change in such
activity.
Some of the terrorist groups that have been banned like the
Jaish-e-Mohammed, have publicly announced that they intend to
continue their violent activities in Jammu and Kashmir by setting
up bases within the state itself. Therefore, we cannot see how
there can be a credible basis for a dialog with Pakistan.
Q: What would you expect from Indonesia, the world's largest
Muslim nation, in relation to your country's efforts to fight
terrorism?
M: Indonesia is a major country in Asia and commands both respect
and influence in our region. Indonesia is also the world's most
populous Muslim country and hence its views count a great deal in
matters relating to Islam. We want to convey to our friends in
Indonesia that our struggle against terrorism in India has
nothing to do with religion. Terrorism does not respect any
religion. In fact, terrorism goes against the tenets of every
religion.
Q: Have you succeeded in your mission?
M: We have every reason to feel fully satisfied with the results
of our mission.
Q: What is your impression of Indonesia?
M: We admire Indonesia as a role model for ethnically diverse,
multireligious and plural societies. It is the largest Muslim
country in the world, but its people respect other faiths and
consider diversity a source of enrichment of national culture and
not as a threat to national unity. These are the values that the
world needs today as we become more and more a global village,
living and interacting in an ever shrinking space.
We go back to India convinced that, based on our long-standing
friendship and economic complementarity, our two countries can
build an enduring political and economic partnership, and
contribute to the resurgence of Asia in this new millennium. (V.
Anjaiah)