Radical groups pose threats to South Asia

"India assessing impact of the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan"

Stressing that terrorism remains a major concern for the South Asian region, India has said that groups with radical and extremist ideologies pose threats across national boundaries in the volatile security environment.

Addressing the sixth meeting of SAARC Interior and Home Ministers in Kathmandu on Friday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that India was carefully assessing the impact of the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan on the entire South Asian region. He also voiced concern about the new threats of extremism, terrorism, and violence emerging in this region.

“We all share a common and indeed vital stake in peace, stability and economic development in Afghanistan. We are naturally concerned by new threats of extremism, terrorism and violence being held out to South Asian countries like India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, which cannot but raise concerns,’’ Mr. Singh said.

Calling for a strategy to check groups with radical and extremist ideologies, he cautioned that these have no compunction in issuing threats publicly against neighbouring and regional countries. He said there was a sea change in the strategic environment in the neighbourhood with the emergence of a new dispensation in Afghanistan following the 9/11 terror attacks in the U.S.

“The international community has lent unprecedented support to the democratically elected Government of Afghanistan. It is our hope that this will continue,’’ he said.

In his opening remarks, the Home Minister stressed India’s commitment to a stable, peaceful and prosperous South Asian neighbourhood. He emphasised the commitment of the Modi government for improving India’s relations with all SAARC neighbours.

He referred to problems that India was facing due to drug smuggling particularly in Punjab, money laundering, terrorist funding, cyber crime, human trafficking and illegal movement of arms across national boundaries. Linked to this issue is the increasing circulation of counterfeit currency in the neighbourhood, he said.