Terrorist modules instigated by elements across the border: PM

Mumbai, July 14: Without naming Pakistan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said that terrorist modules are instigated, inspired and supported by elements across the borders without which they cannot act with such devastating effect.

The Prime Minister said he had explained to Islamabad at the highest level that if terrorism was not contained, it would be extremely difficult to carry forward the peace process or any other processes.

Dr Singh was addressing a press conference at the domestic airport here after visiting two city hospitals to meet the people injured in the recent serial blasts here and reviewing the security sceanrio.

He said terrorist modules exist in Mumbai and many parts of the country. ''We have credible information to this effect. They clearly want to destroy our growing economic strength, unity and provoke communal incidents''.

Stressing that the time had come to crack down and destroy all anti-national elements, the Prime Minister said his government would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that terrorist elements in India are neutralised and smashed. ''This requires sustained action and pressure by Central and state governments'', he noted.

Replying to a question on whether the blasts would affect the ongoing Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) with Pakistan, Dr Singh said ''destinies of all countries in South Asia are interlinked.'' ''We have worked hard to normalise relations with Pakistan. If terror activities continue, it would be exceedingly difficult for the peace process to progress. Pakistan had given an assurance in 2004,that its territory will not be used to aid and abet terrorist activities against India. The assurance has to be fulfilled before relations are normalised completely'', he asserted.

Replying to a question on whether India would take efforts to get Pakistan declared as ''terrorist state'', Dr Singh said India had used all possible opportunities in the world fora to tell the international community that India was subject to terror. ''It is now acknowledged that terrorism is a global phenomenon and this fact has been recognised by the international community. There has to be more awakening'', he added.

To a question on progress of investigations into the blasts, the Prime Minister said the investigators had got some clues. ''But,we would not like to go public and jump the gun. Investigators should be allowed to complete the probe. We must recognise that terrorists are trying to spread their tentacles across the country''.

When asked about the delay in delivering the verdict of the 1993 serial bomb blasts case in Mumbai, Dr Singh said , ''this has been brought to my notice. I will take up the issue with the concerned authority''.

Admitting that there was need to improve ground level intelligence, the Prime Minister urged the local police to have their ''ears to the ground'' and detect any anti-national activities.

''IB had given adequate warnings that something of this nature might happen, terrorists always have an advantage of surprise. Even though we have macro information, there was no specific information at micro level'', he added.

Describing the blasts as ''desperate acts of desperate individuals'' who are trying to break the backbone of the people of Mumbai and the people of India, Dr Singh said just as things can never be the same for those who have lost their near and dear ones, it cannot be business as usual for the government. Stressing that there was need to strengthen anti-terrorism capabilities, Dr Singh said terrorists are becoming sophisticated in the way they deal death and devastation. There is a neccessity to upgrade our technological capabilities,electronic surveillance systems, communication interception capabilities, access control systems to vital installations and high profile targets. ''This we will do. Both at the central and state levels'', he added.

Dr Singh also stressed the need to have rapid response plans to ensure effective management of the situation and quick restoration of normalcy. ''We need to recognise the important role played by citizens in rescue and relief efforts and form auxillary people's groups. Our strength lies in our unity. Fighting together, we will win this battle against terror'', he said and added that he had come to Mumbai to salute the people of the city who showed their resolve not to be cowed down by these incidents. ''They have demonstrated their determination to fight this battle by showing discipline and courage in rapidly restoring normalcy in the city. The whole nation admires the spirit of Mumbai'', he said.

Earlier, the Prime Minister visited KEM and Sion hospitals to meet the injured in the blasts that devastated Mumbai on July 11. He was accompanied by his wife Mrs Gursharan Kaur. Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, National Security Advisor (NSA) M K Narayanan, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil. Mumbai MPs Gurudas Kamat, Milind Deora and DGP Dr P S Pasricha were also prominent among those present at the meeting.

UNI