India wants China support for convention on terror

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Tuesday sought China's support for the convention against terrorism proposed by India at the United Nations and said all nations should join hands to thwart terrorists' evil designs.

Ahead of his talks with the Chinese leadership, Krishna said in view of the multi-dimensional threats posed by terrorism it has become necessary to step up the fight against the menace under the aegis of the United Nations.

"India has come out with a proposal for a comprehensive legislation or a convention in the UN to face terrorism as a universal thereat and every country should cooperate with each other in order to thwart the evil designs of terror and terrorists," he said while speaking to the media on sidelines of his address at an institute of Sino-Indian relations. Krishna, who arrived last night, will hold talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday.

In an apparent reference to Pakistan, Krishna said some countries were using terror as an instrument to destabilise other nations and hinder economic development.

"There are few counties which believe that terrorism could be an instrument through which they would like achieve certain immediate objectives of either destabilising a country or creating a situation where the (economic) development talking place will not be allowed to grow at the pace at which it is taking place," he said.

Speaking to the media at China Institute of International Studies (CIIS) where he spoke on "India and China in 21st century world," he said the issue of terrorism was of considerable importance to India because India is a victim.

Referring to recent terrorist attacks including the one at Pune in Maharashtra, he said terrorism was no more confined to a particular country or region, and hence the need to guard especially against "imported" terrorism.

"Terrorism has spread to very many countries which have not heard of terror, (in the past). Hence it is necessary for every country to guard itself against terrorism which emanates from within and terrorism which is imported from outside," he said.