Author: Brajesh Mishra
Publication: Outlook
Date: May 14, 2003
URL: http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20030514&fname=mishra&sid=1
Full text of the address by the
National Security Advisor of India at the American Jewish Committee Annual
Dinner, Washington, DC on May 08, 2003 that provoked a controversy recently
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honour to be invited to
this distinguished gathering at the AJC Annual Dinner. The people of India
admire the pioneering work of AJC, particularly in promoting human rights
and combating religious discrimination. We also value your contribution
to promoting US-India relations and India-Israel relations.
India has a historical affinity
with the Jewish people. It is one of very few countries in the world with
no history of anti-Semitism. Until the early 1990's, the constraints of
the Cold War prevented this cordiality from extending to India's relations
with Israel. Now we have full diplomatic relations, and a broad range of
economic and, defence cooperation. We have increased the tempo of our high-level
visits. We hope to receive Prime Minister Ariel Sharon soon in India on
an official visit.
The end of the Cold War also ushered
in a major transformation in India's relations with USA. Our Prime Minister
has referred to the two countries as `natural allies'. The US National
Security Strategy report, released last September by President Bush, asserts
that the two countries have common strategic interests.
India, the United States and Israel
have some fundamental similarities. We are all democracies, sharing a common
vision of pluralism, tolerance and equal opportunity. Stronger India-US
relations and India-Israel relations have a natural logic.
I am pleased to see so many distinguished
members of the United States Congress here today. They are friends of Israel.
They are also friends of India. The Caucus on India and Indian- Americans
in the House of Representatives has nearly 160 members. It is perhaps the
largest single country-Caucus in the House, testifying to the growing bonds
of friendship between the world's oldest democracy and its largest.
The increasing contact between the
AJC and Indian-American community organizations is another positive reflection
of shared values of our peoples.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our principal theme here today is
a collective remembrance of the horrors of terrorism and a celebration
of the alliance of free societies involved in combating this scourge. The
US, India and Israel have all been prime targets of terrorism. They have
to jointly face the same ugly face of modern day terrorism.
This is a common challenge. Global
terrorism did not start on September 11, 2001. But that date marks a global
awakening to its reach.
The international coalition against
terrorism has scored some successes. Terrorism needs to be rooted out wherever
it exists.
After over a year and a half of
the global fight against terrorism, it is far from over. The leaders of
the AI-Qaeda remain at large. We keep hearing that they have the know-how
and the material to build at least a crude radiological device. This is
naturally a matter of extreme concern. We cannot ignore this spectre of
globalization of terror and its intersection with WMD.
We see worrying signs of a regrouping
of Taliban elements in southern and southeastern Afghanistan. And this
is only a segment of the international terrorist network. It will, therefore,
be a long haul and its success would require a genuine commitment to its
objectives by every member of the international coalition.
It is most unfortunate that some
diversionary arguments are still preventing a consensus on important anti-terrorist
conventions. An agreed definition of terrorism still eludes the international
community. Distinctions sought to be made between freedom fighters and
terrorists propagate a bizarre logic, which glorifies massacres of one
set of innocent civilians, while condemning killings of others.
Another fallacy motivatedly propagated
is that terrorism can only be eradicated by addressing its `root causes'.
This is nonsense. Terrorist attacks against innocents have no justification.
Democratic societies, which address the `root causes' of alienation and
anger through pluralism and socio- economic justice, are precisely the
targets of terrorism.
As the main targets of international
terrorism, democratic countries should form a viable alliance against terrorism
and develop the multi-lateral mechanisms to counter it. Such an alliance
would have the political will and moral authority to take b old decisions
in extreme cases of terrorist provocation. It would not get bogged down
in definitional and causal arguments about terrorism. Blocking financial
supplies, disrupting networks, sharing intelligence, simplifying extradition
procedures - these are preventive measures which can only be effective
through international cooperation based on trust and shared values.
A core, consisting of democratic
societies, has therefore to gradually emerge from within our existing coalition,
which can take on international terrorism in a holistic and focused manner.
It would ensure that the global campaign against terrorism, is pursued
to its logical conclusion, and does not run out of steam, because of other
preoccupations. We owe this commitment to our future generations.
