Author: Agencies
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: August 24, 2007
URL: http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=91301
The US feels India's fears of terrorists using
sea routes to sustain their campaign are well-grounded and has suggested that
counter-measures like Container Security Initiative needed to be ratified
soon.
"Such fears are realistic as terrorists
are feeling hemmed in their present sanctuaries," Top US Admiral Timothy
J Keating said in New Delhi adding, "possibilities of their using maritime
domain are alive."
A joint strategy needs to be evolved to combat
such tactics and "we are in dialogue with nations on this", Keating,
Commander of the key US Pacific Command, now on a visit to New Delhi, said.
After meeting top Indian defence and strategic
brass, Keating, elaborating on terrorists using sea routes, said,
"such attacks are already happening with attempts on some US Naval ships
and on commercial shipping lines."
"The US has stressed in these meetings
with Indian brass that there can't be any let up in pressure mounted on terrorists,"
Keating said, emphasising that they should not be allowed "time and space
to regroup".
"Our commitment to fight the terrorists
should be unwavering," he said.
Keating said the US was in dialogue with a
number of like-minded countries, including India, on counter terrorism measures
like the Container Security Initiative. "Ratification of this will lead
to sharing of data base, essential to keep track of terrorist movements."
The Container Security Initiative was floated
by the US post-9/11 and stipulates that all cargo bound for America be checked
by US customs at originating ports.
The CSI has already been under discussion
in India, with the Government moving to designate Jawaharlal Nehru port at
Vishakapatnam to allow US customs to set up a post to check all cargo bound
for America from India.
Defence Minister A K Antony and National Security
Adviser M K Narayanan have often voiced fears of terrorists using sea routes
to infiltrate into India with contraband.
"We have to keep efforts at top level
to detect terrorists and track financial channels of the terrorists, Keating
said adding that had figured prominently in his talks with Indian officials.
He said as part of new measures, the two countries
were evolving means to make exchange of strategic information more "dynamic,
flexible and to ensure it was carried out in rapid manner".
"It is a difficult world we operate in,"
the US Admiral said. "Our responses have to be rapid to meet any contingencies."
Supporting the 1,000 naval warship concept,
Keating said it will be a "collaborative network" and when such
a system is worked out, warships coursing different waterways can be diverted
with little notice to meet maritime threats and for relief in natural calamities.
