'Resurgence of Taliban, Qaeda a real challenge'

Describing the resurgence of Taliban and the Al Qaeda as 'real challenge,' India on Wednesday asked the international community to put 'effective pressure' on Pakistan to implement its commitment to deal with terror groups in its territory, failing which the region could be catapulted into spiral of violence.

"Terrorism remains essential challenge to the regional security.....There is a real challenge posed by the resurgence of Taliban and Al Qaeda. There is a need for the international community to re-commit its assistance to Afghanistan..... There is a growing consensus that the increase in terror activities in Afghanistan is linked to the support available in the contiguous areas," Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said while delivering a keynote address at a conference on South Asia-2020.

She also rubbished Pakistan's claim of seizing India-made arms from the Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan, saying there was no 'factual basis' for these reports.