Asking Pakistan not to shirk its responsibility of ending cross-border terrorism, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee said India is not 'helpless.'
Asking Pakistan not to shirk its responsibility of ending cross-border terrorism, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said India is not "helpless" and that it will confront the menace with "courage and fortitude".
Speaking at a conclave of Congress district and block level office-bearers here, he said India has kept all options open on the issue of dealing with terrorism emanating from Pakistan and asked the neighbouring country not to divert attention of the world community.
"Perpetrators of (Mumbai) terror attacks must be punished. Nobody should think that this country is helpless and cannot tackle the situation arising out of terrorism," Mukherjee said.
"I repeat all options are open," he said and asserted that terrorism would be fought with "courage and fortitude".
"This menace has to be confronted and we are exactly doing that," Mukherjee said.
He said India is asking Pakistan, from where these terrorists are coming and operating to fulfill its own commitments that its land will not be used by terrorists.
"Don't try to divert the attention of the international community. Take corrective measures and don't think that you can simply shirk this responsibility," he told Pakistan.
Mukherjee said Pakistan is committed to the UN resolution of not allowing use of its land for terrorist activity.
"They (Pakistan) have to fulfill their commitment. Perpetrators of terror attacks must be brought to justice," he said.
At the same time, the external affairs minister cautioned against linking terrorism to any religion. "I must utter a word of caution, if not warning, for those elements which try to misrepresent this issue.... (who say) that this act concerns a particular religion."
He emphasised that terrorism has no religion, no borders and no respect for any nation.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}