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| India remains concerned over infiltration: Kalam | | New threats to national security increasingly visible | | NEW DELHI | FEB 23
India remains concerned over infiltration and cros-border terrorism, President, APJ Abdul Kalam said on Friday. He has emphasised that the success of the dialogue process "is predicated on Pakistan fulfilling its commitment not to permit any territory under its control to be usd to support terrorism in any manner".
In his address to two Houses of Parliament on the opening day of the two-month-long budget session, the President observed: "It is a matter of satisfaction that the dialogue process with Pakistan is progressing steadily". He said that the composite dialogue, the Joint Commission and the anti-terrorism instituional mechanism "have provided a structural framework within which all major issues are being discussed".
At the same time, APJ Abdul Kalam made a pointed reference his government's concern over infiltration and cross-border terrorism. He, clearly, spoke the Manmohan Singh government's language: Success of the dialogue process is predicated on Pakistan fulfilling its commitment not o permit any territory under its control to be used to support terrorism in any manner.
President Kalam, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, said that at a time when new and unconventional threats to national security "are increasingly visble", even while the strategic environment "continues to be fragile", the government of India shall maintain focus on strengthening the defence of the country. His assurance: "We shall provide our Armed Forces with the best possible means to do so".
President Kalam said that his government was investing in the modernization of India's Armed Forces and of the country's indigenous defence industry, to make them fully capable of dealing with existing and emerging challenges. He added that the country's Armed Forces had also been engaged in cooperative exercises with many partner countries, and their performance had invariably come in for praise. "The nation is grateful to them for their contribution. The welfare of our exservicemen is a priority of my government", Kalam pointed out.
Strongly defending the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government's foreign policy, APJ Abdul Kalam said that it (foreign policy) had been shaped by the desire to create "an external environment conducive to peace and stability in the region, ensuring our accelerated economic development and the safeguarding of our national security". He added: "In pursuit of this enlightened national interest, my government has undertaken a comprehensive engagement with the world--with all major powers, with our extended neighbourhood and with our partners in the developing world and trhe nonaligned movement".
According to President Kalam, a focused and "holistic" atempt to deal with the challenges of internal security iun Jammu and Kashmir, in the nsorth eatern region and in the regions afected by naxalite activity "is yielding dividends". Stating that the UPA government recognises the challenge posed by terrorism and extremism and has been resolute in dealing with it, Kalam said that while Indian security and intelligence agencies had "successfully foiled many atempts by terrorist groups to strike terror", there had ben tragic, dastardly and cowardly acts of terrorism, as in Mumbai and Asam and, most recently, in the atack on Samjhouta Express. And his asurance: The Manmohan Singh government is dealing firmly with the challenge posed.
Kalam told parliamentarians that while ensuring law and order and internal security in Jammu and Kashmir, north east, and naxalite-affected regions, his government would remain focused on the overall social, economic and cultural development of thesde parts of the country, aimed at ensuring the active participation of all sections of our society in the national mainstream.
Yet another assurance held out by President Kalam: "My government will continue ti impart a healing touch both in Jammu and Kashmir and in the north east, while maintaining utmost vigil against terrorist and extremist forces. My government ataches the highest impoprtance to ensuring that all agencies respect basic human rights, even in the most trying circumstances".
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