India condemns beheading of Sikhs - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao on Monday condemned the beheading of Sikhs and described the incident as 'most unfortunate'. Addressing a press conference after delivering an address at the 3rd MEA-IISS Seminar on "Perspectives on Foreign Policy for a 21st Century India", Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao here said: "As far as the reference to the very unfortunate incident involving the beheading of some Sikhs is believed to have been done by Taliban, (this) is the most unfortunate and the tragic event, and we have sought facts on this from our High Commission in Pakistan. The news came in late last evening, so I am still awaiting more information on this subject. Of course, we condemn this incident." Earlier, during her address Ms. Rao said terrorism poses an existential threat to the civilized world and it is a pivotal security challenge for India and in its neighbourhood. "Terrorists have sought to undermine our sovereignty, security and economic progress, aided and abetted by forces beyond our borders. Our embassy in Kabul has faced vicious suicide bomb attacks twice, in 2008 and 2009. The Mumbai attacks of November 2008 and the more recent outrage in Pune, have once again demonstrated the barbaric face of terrorism." "Terror groups implacably opposed to India continue to recruit, train and plot attacks from safe havens across our borders. Open democratic societies such as India face particular challenges in combating the threat of terrorism. The United Kingdom is also familiar with this debate. We are acting nationally to address this through legal, institutional and administrative measures." "We have recently amended the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 to reinforce the legal and punitive provisions, including financing aspects of terrorism. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been established as a federal body for investigation and prosecution in respect of terrorist acts with all-India jurisdiction. Regional hubs have been created for the National Security Guards. The National Multi Agency Centre (MAC) has been strengthened and made functional round the clock," said Ms. Rao. Ms. Rao said that terrorism threat could not be countered by national efforts alone. "At the same time, it is clear that the threat from terrorism cannot be dealt with through national efforts alone. Global outreach and linkages among terror networks are now quite evident and they are becoming more active." Saying the global nature of the threat has been recognized widely, Ms.Rao said: "Global efforts to tackle the problem also need to be intensified. Terrorism needs to be countered collectively and expeditiously. It is time that the international community works towards early adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism that was tabled at the UN over a decade ago in 1996. We must act jointly and with determination to meet the challenges posed by terrorism and to defend the values of pluralism, peaceful co-existence and the rule of law."