Fight against terrorism has to be unrelenting: Arun Jaitley

United Nations: India has said that the fight against the scourge of terrorism has to be unrelenting and nations cannot adopt selective approaches in dealing with terrorist groups.

Talking tough on terror, visiting Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said resorting to the use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy is short-sightedness. "The fight against terrorism has to be unrelenting and fought across all fronts. The international community cannot afford selective approaches in dealing with terrorist groups or in dismantling the infrastructure of terrorism," Jaitley said in United Nations on Tuesday during a session on 'Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism'.

Jaitley, who is part of a delegation of Indian parliamentarians attending sessions of the UN General Assembly, reiterated India's call for the adoption of a holistic approach that ensures zero-tolerance towards terrorism.

"Terrorists are waging an asymmetric warfare against the international community, and are a major most threat to the international peace and security. India holds the firm view that no cause whatsoever or grievance could justify terrorism.

"India condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including those in which States are directly or indirectly involved, including the State-sponsored cross-border terrorism," he added. He said India strongly supports all efforts, particularly within the purview of the UN that strengthen international and regional cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

"We must step up our collective efforts with real cooperation among member states to confront the scourge of terrorism squarely and decisively. Terrorism is a Frankenstein monster. Indeed, those who have taken recourse to it have invariably themselves suffered immensely from it proving the age old dictum that those who play with the sword, shall also perish by it," he said.

Jaitley told the UNGA session that India has faced the scourge of terrorism for over two-and-a-half decades. "Indeed, our entire region, has been wracked by the activities of the biggest terrorist actors in the world, be they Al-Qaeda, elements of Taliban or Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamat-ud Daawa and others.

Terrorism, extremism and radicalization continue to pose a serious challenge to peace, progress and prosperity in the region. "We believe that in addition to the law enforcement measures, the preventive aspect is equally important. Focus on development, education, social integration, tolerance, rule of law and respect for human rights are the integral components of such an approach," he added.

Jaitley noted that India strongly favours the strengthening of the normative framework at the United Nations to effectively deal with the scourge of terrorism.

"We continue to stress the need for expanding the scope of the legal instruments and the enforcement efforts to destroy safe havens for terrorists, their financial flows and support networks and to bring the terrorists to justice," he said.

He said the work undertaken by the Ad-hoc Committee towards negotiations of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) has been significant. Earlier this year, the committee recommended establishment of a working group of the Sixth Committee during the 69th UNGA session, with a view to finalizing the process on the draft CCIT.

"We reiterate our support to the Coordinator's text and are hopeful that all States, considering the seriousness of the threat of the menace of terrorism and the importance of the measures to deal therewith, will consider according their acceptance to the text of the draft Convention," he said.

He added that India is working with fellow SAARC nations to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation.