Why govt may not support move to declare Pakistan a 'terror state'

A private member's bill had been moved in the Rajya Sabha recently seeking to declare countries such as Pakistan as terror states.

New Delhi, Feb 21: A move to declare Pakistan as a terror state will be opposed by the Union government citing diplomatic reasons. A private member's bill had been moved in the Rajya Sabha recently seeking to declare countries such as Pakistan as terror states.

However, the Home ministry has decided to oppose this bill stating that it would damage international relations under the Geneva Convention. India is bound by international norms and since there are trade relations that are shared, it would not be correct to declare such countries as terror states, the Home ministry has said.

The bill will come up for discussion on March 9 when Parliament resumes. A private member's bill can become a law once it is screened by a house committee. The bill would then have to be passed by a majority vote in Parliament. The bill moved by MP, Rajeev Chandrashekhar has sought to impose legal, economic and travel sanctions on citizens of countries which promote terror. The bill had been discussed on February 3.

The government is unlikely to give its nod to the bill. The Home ministry has told the Parliament secretariat that that it opposes the Bill as it could jeopardise international relations under the Geneva Convention.

OneIndia News