Hindustan Times (Patiala)

SECURITY INFRA BOLSTERED TO FIGHT TERRORISM SHAH

- Neeraj Chauhan letters@hindustant­imes.com

NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday condemned countries that shelter terror groups and their leaders, saying protecting a terrorist was equivalent to promoting terrorism, in what was seen as an indirect reference to Pakistan and China. Addressing the first session of the No Money for Terror Conference in New Delhi, Shah also said that the threat of terrorism “cannot” and “should not” be linked to any religion, nationalit­y or group.

“We also recognise that the threat of terrorism cannot and should not be linked to any religion, nationalit­y, or group. To confront terrorism, we have made significan­t progress in fortifying the security architectu­re, as well as the legal and financial systems”, he told the gathering of delegates from 77 countries and 16 internatio­nal agencies.

NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday condemned countries that shelter terror groups and their leaders, saying protecting a terrorist was equivalent to promoting terrorism, in what was seen as an indirect reference to Pakistan and China.

Addressing the first session of the No Money for Terror Conference in New Delhi, Shah also said that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), both based in Pakistan, continued to spread terror and expressed concern over the growing influence of al Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) in the South Asian region.

“Terrorism is, undoubtedl­y, the most serious threat to global peace and security. But I believe that the financing of terrorism is more dangerous than terrorism itself, because the means and methods of terrorism are nurtured from such funding. Furthermor­e, the financing of terrorism weakens the economy of countries of the world,” he told the gathering of delegates from 77 countries and 16 internatio­nal agencies.

Shah said that in the last few years, India succeeded in crack“Three ing down on terror financing, based on six pillars: Strengthen­ing the legislativ­e and technologi­cal framework; creating a comprehens­ive monitoring framework; actionable intelligen­ce sharing mechanism and strengthen­ing of the investigat­ion and police operations; provision for confiscati­on of property; preventing misuse of legal entities and new technologi­es and establishi­ng internatio­nal cooperatio­n and coordinati­on.

“We have seen that some countries protect and shelter terrorists. Protecting a terrorist is equivalent to promoting terrorism. It will be our collective responsibi­lity that such elements never succeed in their intentions,” the home minister said.

“India condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestat­ions. We believe that no reason can justify an act, such as taking innocent lives. I express my sympathy for the victims of terrorist attacks all over the world. We should never compromise with this evil,” he added.

Shah said the regime change in Afghanista­n after withdrawal of American troops last year and the growing influence of al Qaeda and IS have emerged as a significan­t challenge to regional security, making terror financing more serious.

decades ago, the whole world has had to bear the serious consequenc­es of one such regime change, the result of which we all have seen in the horrific attack of 9/11. In this background, last year changes in the South Asian region are a matter of concern for all of us,” Shah said. He was likely hinting at the withdrawal of Soviet Union troops from Afghanista­n in 1990s, which plunged the region into turmoil and led to the rise of the Taliban.

He specifical­ly named the LeT and JeM for spreading terror and sought action against terror safe havens.

“We should never ignore terrorists’ safe havens or their resources. We also have to expose the double-speak of such elements who sponsor and support them,” the home minister said.

Shah further said that the threat of terrorism “cannot” and “should not” be linked to any religion, nationalit­y or group. “We also recognise that the threat of terrorism cannot and should not be linked to any religion, nationalit­y, or group. To confront terrorism, we have made significan­t progress in fortifying the security architectu­re, as well as the legal and financial systems”.

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