Terror outfits cannot be dealt with selectively: India to US

Citing the failed Times Square bombing which is suspected to have been plotted in Pakistan, India has told the US that terrorist organisations cannot be dealt with "selectively" as their "driving force" is only to export terror to a country.

In an apparent reference to Pakistan's reluctance to take action against LeT, blamed for the Mumbai attacks, external affairs minister SM Krishna said terror outfits have to be dealt with across the board and not selectively.

"These terrorist organisations are like a syndicate. In Pakistan we find that if some particular organisation or a name is found (and banned), the same set of persons create another organisation," he said.

"The driving force is the same to export terror to a country. Just like an attempt was made at the Times Square is a grim reminder that it can hit anybody anywhere. It is a very well-oiled machinery," Krishna told reporters, wrapping up his 4-day official visit to the US.

"One has to be extremely cautious, careful and terrorists organisations will have to be dealt with across the board and it cannot be dealt selectively. We have conveyed (to the US) and they understand our sensitivities," he said. 

Faisal Shahzad, the Pakistani-American arrested for the Times Square failed bombing got trained at a terrorist training camp in Pakistan's restive Waziristan tribal region.

US has blamed the Pakistani Taliban for the failed bombing in New York's Times Square. 

In his opening remarks at the Indo-US strategic dialogue yesterday, Krishna had made a reference to Shahzad's case to underline his point that terror exported from Pakistan can hit anywhere in the world.

On whether India's concerns about Pakistan have been raised during the meetings he had with US officials, Krishna said: "Secretary Clinton is quite aware if India's various concerns as regard to Pak.  This has been discussed with Clinton and also at
official level at greater detail. The message is that they are
aware of our concerns they would not do anything that would
adversely affect India's concerns," he said.

On the Indo-US strategic dialogue, Krishna said the whole idea behind his visit here was to move closer in terms of addressing the concerns of the two countries.

"Our concerns should be addressed by the US and theirs by us. This is the ground rule. The relationship between India and the US is not going to be at the cost of other county. As well, we understand where our concerns and interests lie. We also understand (where their concerns) lie."

On India's bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, the minister said India has always at every multilateral form have been raising this issue.

"Not only UNSC but also other organisations need to reflect the contemporary realities of the present world.

"A charter that was drafted in 1945 need---- so the kind of world that we are dealing with today is totally different that the founding fathers. There is overwhelming support at the UN and at one point of time more than 130 countries supported India, Brazil. Now (we have) reached a stage for discussion. Now I am looking forward to some more movement when the GA session starts," he said.

He said the UN is conducting negotiations and hoped that they would be fruitful. 

On Export Control, Krishna said the issue was discussed with officials.

"This is one of the important issues which the two countries is facing and any satisfactory resolution of this would let the two countries to move forward in mutual cooperative endeavour," he said.

Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao has had discussions with US officials on this issue.

On Iran, Krishna said India hopes that the IAEA and Tehran would come to an understanding to solve the stalemate over Iran's controversial nuclear programme. 

"India's position is very clear. We are against all proliferation. I was in Iran just a few weeks back, had discussions with the, our point of view duly conveyed to them. 

"That every country that would like to use nuke technology for peaceful purpose, has to have liberty but that liberty has to have within the parameters of IAEA. We are hoping that Iran and IAEA will come to some understanding," Krishna said.