India commits support to combating terrorism

Our Bureau

New Delhi, Sept 12: India will back the US and the international community in combating terrorism and it has reteriated its commitment to fight the scourge as a country which has travelled “this road long enough”.

“We have a commitment to fight this scourge and I would like to convey this to the people of the us who are in the midst of trauma and suffering,” external affairs minister Jaswant Singh told the media persons in New delhi on Wednesday.

Describing the attacks as a “grim tragedy that has visited the US’’, he said the fight against terrorism was not directed against any individual but “certain manifestations.” “India clearly stands by the US and the international community in the fight against terrorism,” he said. The whole purpose of such acts is to create terror. It is a regression in medivialism.

The external affairs and defence minister said, that “Islam is not synonymous with terrorism. And, the sheer horror of this tragedy, the size, planning that went intio it to take innocent lives has woken the international community. Stating that he had been in regular touch with the Indian mission in the US, the minister said that no staffer has been affected in the attacks. It is a relief but no compensation.

In response to a query, the minister said that I take this opportunity to express particular concern about many people of Indian origin or NRIs who have made the us their home.’’ He added that round-the-clock helplines have been established for worried relatives and friends at New york, Washington and Delhi (Patiala House).

Responding to a query about the forth coming UN sessions, the minister , expressed apprehensions about the opening session of the UN general Assembly taking place. The opening session, which was to originally commence on Tuesday has now been postponed to Wednesday afternoon EST.

‘‘I am in constant touch with the UN secretariat and have just been informed a few hours ago, that the secretariat has been asked to be vacated by authorities in New York,” he said.