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)