Terrorism is the most significant challenge to peace and security: Chidambaram

Stating that the lives and safety of the people continue to remain at significant risk from targeted, deliberate and cowardly terrorist outrages, Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Saturday said terrorism is the most significant existential challenge to peace and security in the region.

"It is the single largest hindrance to socio-economic development in South Asia. Since this is a common challenge that has affected most of us, it is clear that only with the fullest cooperation amongst us can we tackle the threat of terrorism. We have no alternative but to deploy the best instruments and resources at our disposal in our fight against terrorism," said Chidambaram in his opening remarks at the fourth SAARC Interior/Home Ministers meeting at Thimpu, Bhutan.

"It is from this perspective that we need to examine the existing mechanisms we have for countering terrorism, drug trafficking, trafficking in human beings, arms smuggling and counterfeiting including organized production and distribution of fake Indian currency notes," he added.

Recalling the Conference of the Interior/Home Ministers of SAARC countries in Islamabad in June 2010, Chidambaram said all the participating nations are equally committed to their common endeavour in eliminating the menace of terrorism.

"I would like to reiterate India's continuing commitment to discharge its responsibilities in SAARC in an effective manner. We shall do our best to ensure that SAARC evolves into a vibrant regional economic organization. Here, I would like to recall the fruitful meeting that we had during the Conference of the Interior/Home Ministers of SAARC countries in Islamabad in June 2010 where we last met," said Chidambaram.

"We agreed, inter-alia, on the broad contours of cooperation to combat terrorism. I am sure that all of us are equally committed to our common endeavour in eliminating the menace of terrorism," he added.

Chidambaram further said the South Asian region is perhaps the most troubled and vulnerable region in the world.

"The vast majority of major terrorist incidents this year - as well as last year - have occurred in this region. Terrorist groups in this region have flourished because of the support they have found from State and non-State actors. Sometimes, I think that the distinction between State actors and non-State actors is misplaced and intended to misdirect our efforts to deal with terrorist groups at the very source - the recruitment centres, the training camps and their safe havens and sanctuaries," said Chidambaram.

Chidambaram added: "No State and no Government can escape responsibility by pointing to non-State actors. As long as the territory of a country is used by non-State actors to prepare for terrorist attacks, that country owes a legal and moral responsibility to its neighbours and to the world to suppress those non-State actors and bring them to justice." (ANI)