Terrorism is a “trans-national phenomena” and needs strong collective action by all countries, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday adding terrorists are exploiting social media and cyberspace to influence impressionable minds. She called for readiness to meet traditional (military) and non-traditional threats faced by nations of Association of South East Asian Nations(ASEAN).
Addressing the 4th ASEAN Defence Ministers conclave in Manila, Philippines, she said terrorism and radicalization pose a serious security challenge to all countries and a strong collective action is required to fight the “scourge.”
Noting that the global strategic and security situation was constantly evolving, Sitharaman, on her first visit to a foreign country after taking charge as defence minister, said these developments had thrown up fresh and serious challenges.
“The defence and security scenario in our shared region has also witnessed significant changes recently. Our countries now need to simultaneously prepare for traditional (military) and non-traditional threats,” she said.
Terming terrorism a “trans-national phenomena” which needed strong collective action, Sitharaman praised the Philippines for resolutely addressing the threat posed by terrorists in the southern part of the country. “I wish to commend the Philippines for reiterating India’s zero tolerance for terrorism anywhere and under any circumstances. There are no good terrorists,” she said.
On the threat of social media and cyberspace, the minister said these were exploited by terrorists to “develop less visible but lethal ways and means of manipulating minds of the people,” the official statement released by the defence ministry here said.
Sitharaman said the transnational activism of terrorist groups and the “spectre” of returning foreign fighters as well as the conduct of irresponsible states that provide safe havens, funding and even encouragement to terrorist groups all needed
to be addressed jointly and comprehensively.
“Terrorism anywhere is a threat everywhere,” she said adding India has taken resolute measures to fight the scourge of terrorism from across its borders. “We fully recognise the role of joint mechanisms with our partners and the role of international and regional forums in fighting this menace.
“The recent, BRICS Summit Declaration condemning all forms of terrorism and identifying a number of terrorist organisations engaged in dastardly acts was a positive step... We should be clear and unequivocal in our condemnation of terrorism,” Sitharaman said.
In an apparent reference to China which is flexing muscle in South China Sea thereby leading to tension, she said without naming the eastern neighbor that “nations should resolve maritime disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law. We support a rules based order for oceans and sea that is critical for the continued growth and development of the Indo-Pacific region.” She also said India supports freedom of navigation, over flight and commerce throughout the region.
As regards North Korea, the minister said India criticized that nation’s nuclear tests and said, “We remain concerned about the proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies which has adversely impacted India’s national security and that of the entire region.”
She also sought a probe into North Korea’s nuclear proliferation linkages and demanded that those responsible for it be held accountable, in a veiled reference to Pakistan’s links with Pyongyang..
Pakistan had secretly supplied North Korea with nuclear enrichment technology when AQ Khan headed the country’s nuclear programme. According to western media reports, Pakistan supplied vital machinery, drawings and technical advice to North Korea, allowing Pyongyang to enrich uranium as early as 2002.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had also raised India’s concerns over North Korea’s nuclear proliferation and demanded that those responsible for it be held accountable. Swaraj’s remarks came during her trilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and her Japanese counterpart Taro Kono on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session in New York last month.