NEW DELHI: The Committee on External Affairs of the 17th Lok Sabha, chaired by PP Chaudhary, presented its 28th report on โCountering Global Terrorism at Regional and International Levelsโ on Monday. The 118-page report recommends the formulation of an action plan to eliminate terrorist networks and safe havens in neighbouring countries, particularly in Pakistan.
Terrorism in India, primarily cross-border in nature, poses a significant threat. The committee noted that terrorist activities are often sponsored from across the border, with Pakistanโs Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) providing support to outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and others.
Despite previous attempts to address the issue through talks with Pakistan, high-level interactions have been nonexistent in the past three years. However, the Indian government continues to raise concerns about Pakistanโs support for cross-border terrorism at various forums.
The committee emphasises the need for diplomatic efforts to expose Pakistanโs activities and strengthen border security measures. It also calls for an assessment of the situation to determine the feasibility of resuming high-level interactions with Pakistan.
Furthermore, the committee recommends the development of an action plan to enhance resource sharing, capacity building, and global coordination to combat terrorism effectively.
During evidence gathering, the Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs highlighted Indiaโs holistic approach to counterterrorism, emphasising the countryโs leadership in setting global standards and countering terror financing
