Terrorist modules instigated by cross-border

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.

UNI