George talks tough on terrorism

Union defence minister George Fernandes said the duplicity and the complicity of Pakistan in the acts of terror have been thoroughly exposed in Afghanistan.

In an address to IAF personnel at the South Western Air Command here on Sunday, Mr. Fernandes the Union defence minister said September 11 changed the way in which the world perceives the acts of terror and the security concerns. He said US is the strongest country in the world both militarily and economically. "But both were of no use on September 11 that showed that even a small band of extremists or sometimes even one person can cause security problems for the entire world," Mr. Fernandes said.

Mr. Fernandes said our country has been facing terrorism for the past 10 to 11 years in Jammu and Kashmir, and in the Purvanchal areas for the past 40 years and we are aware of the extent of Pakistani complicity in terrorist acts in the country.

"Te other countries and even the United Nations had dismissed the acts of terrorism as a problem between two countries combating each other since partition until it knocked the doors of US on September 11," the defence minister said. He said this triggered the response of the US against Afghanistan but our problems is whether or not the action against terrorism remains confined to Afghanistan or is extended to all parts of the world. As even on Sunday there are reports of Pentagon style aircraft attack on Zurich in Switzerland.

Later, to a question he said the Pakistani duplicity in Afghanistan has been throughly exposed as on one hand it is part of an alliance that is fighting against terrorism in Afghanistan while on the other, their soldiers are in cohorts with the Taliban and the entire world has taken note of it. When asked if the Pakistani army personnel trapped in Kunduz in Afghanistan should be allowed safe transit, Mr. Fernandes said it is for the coalition dealing with the problem there to decide.

"There is a need to understand that terrorism is there to stay as long as socio-political initiative is made to resolve the elementary cause, the economic aspects and the psyche of injustice involved in acts of terrorism," he said. Mr. Fernandes said the IAF strength was on display during the Kargil war when supersonic jets of the Indian Air Force pounded the heights of Kargil to retrieve the Indian land. "The pounding y our air crafts in an area 100 kms long and two to nine kms breadth has been commended and our capability and efficacy hae been recognised the world over. Foreign dignitaries on visit to the prime minister and the defence ministry seek to know how aerial attacks had been possible in such a limited geographical area," Mr. Fernandes said. Earlier he said he is aware of the loss of more than 100 lives and the extensive damage to assets and house of IAF during the earthquake and informed that the Centre had made urgent allocation of Rs 16,000crores for housing of defence personnel. "This is apart from the Rs 62,000 crores defence budget and included the houses damaged during the earthquake in Bhuj," Mr. Fernandes said. "We plan to construct three lakh houses in the next four years. However, I have directed to achieve the target of construction of house within three years," he added. "There is no lack of funds for houses for defence personnel," Mr Fernandes said adding that money should not come in the way of security concerns of the country. Asked about his comment on compulsory military training for youth in the country Mr. Fernandes said his statements had been wrongly interpreted. He said he had experienced that a three-week military training for tribals in Jharkhand which had inculcated a self of discipline and belief in them and had helped them in enhancing their capabilities. "I had just observed that if a three-week course can do this in Jharkhand a two month course for youth can change the face of the nation," he said. Later Mr. Fernandes, accompanied by Union minister of state for defence procurement Harin Pathak, visited the Bhuj military station in Kutch. He was received at the airport b Lt. General Hari Prasad, general officer commanding Konark Corps. The defence minister also visited forward posts in the Rann and addressed the troops.

Republished from The Asian Age