Terror attacks in India received assistance from outside, says President Patil

New Delhi, Feb 12 (ANI): In her address to the joint sitting of Parliament, President Pratibha Patil today said the country witnessed terrorist attacks in several cities with growing levels of sophistication and assistance from outside the country.

Calling the attacks in Mumbai as a deliberate plan to retard the country's economic progress, Patil said terrorists from Pakistan have continued to attack India despite solemn commitments given by Islamabad at the highest level that it will not allow its territory to be used against India in any manner.

"My government is heartened by the international support it has received after these attacks. 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," she said.

"Pakistan has eroded the achievements of the bilateral dialogue process and has caused a grave setback to relations," she added.

The President further said that the terror attacks in Mumbai and the terrorist incidents in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Bengaluru and Assam and before that on India's Embassy in Kabul in 2008, were an assault on all the values that our country stands for.aluting the security forces including police in tackling terror, left-wing extremist and insurgent groups, she said the Government has strengthened the country's internal security to protect people from such mindless acts of violence.

"A National Investigation Agency has been established to deal with terrorism. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act has been amended to deal with terrorist offences and terrorist organizations," she said.

"These measures have strengthened the legal and investigative framework to tackle terrorist forces. While arming the internal security apparatus with these powers, all care would be taken to uphold legal procedures and prevent any misuse of such powers," she added.

Patil said the signing of Indo-US nuclear deal was one of the manifestations of the transformation of India's relationship with the US.We look forward to working with the new Administration to mutual benefit in the bilateral field as well as the major challenges of our time," she added. (ANI)