India expects Pak to honour its commitment

In her address to the joint sitting of Parliament prior to the beginning of Budget Session, President Pratibha Patil termed the repeated terror attacks on India as an assault on its value system, and asked Pakistan to honour its commitments in the fight against terror.

She said that the terror strikes in Mumbai as well as the terrorist incidents in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Bengaluru and Assam and before that on our Embassy in Kabul were deliberate attempts to retard India’s economic progress.

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Appreciating the support of International community to India she said the government is heartened by the international support it has received after these attacks, and added that there is greater appreciation in the international community of the threat that exists to the region and the world from the terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

Commenting on Pakistan’s inability and lack of genuineness in tracking down terror organisation, Patil said “despite solemn commitments given by Pakistan at the highest level that it would not allow territory under its control to be used for terrorism in any manner against India, terrorists from Pakistan have continued to attack India.”

“We expect Pakistan to honour the commitments made to us, and to take decisive and credible action against all terrorist groups that are based in, and operate from, its territory,” she said.

Further mentioning the multiple internal security challenges, the President said that the government has strengthened country’s internal security with the establishment of National Investigating Agency, amendment of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and modernisation of police force to deal with the menace.

She also hailed government’s holistic approach to tackle left-wing extremism in many areas in close coordination with the affected states through modernization of police forces and better implementation of socio-economic development programmes for the most backward regions.

Talking about the situation in north-east, President Pratibha Patil said: ‘the general situation in the region has improved significantly over the last four years. Efforts have been made to initiate a dialogue process with various groups who abjure violence with the aim of bringing them into the national mainstream.’

The President also acknowledged the efforts of the security forces by saying that the Armed Forces have made the country proud with their sense of commitment, sacrifice and professionalism. They have time and again come to the aid of civil authority in natural disasters, as well as to combat insurgency in affected areas.