‘Pakistan should shed its ambivalence on terror’

Indian defence minister says cannot lower guard 'as long as terror infrastructure across border continues to...

NEW DEHLI: Pakistan should shed its ambivalence on terrorism, India’s Defence Minister A K Antony said on Tuesday while addressing the top brass of the Indian army.

“Pakistan does not appear to be willing to leave its India-centric posturing. It will have to shed its ambivalence in dealing with terror groups. Though we are not unduly concerned, we will have to keep constant vigil on the developments in Pakistan,” Antony said at the army commanders’ conference, reported the Times of India.

The five-day conference, to be attended by senior army generals, will review the security scenario, operational and administrative preparedness and look at improving the army’s performance. It will also focus on training and its effectiveness based on state-of-the-art technology.

Fighting terrorism costs the nation substantially, Antony said, while reiterating that India would crush terrorism “with all our might”. “The army has been quite successful in countering the proxy war and in minimising the incidents of terror,” he said. “Still, as long as the terror infrastructure across the border continues to flourish, we cannot afford to drop our guard,” he added. According to him, the security situation in the bordering region of Afghanistan and Pakistan continues to be a cause for concern.

“Despite the physical and material cost, India has at all times, advocated peace and stability with all nations including our neighbours,” he said. “The volatile political situation in our immediate neighbourhood has the potential of having a debilitating impact on the region. India’s role in preserving peace and stability thus, becomes all the more important.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2010.