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Pakistan must be held accountable: PM

"We will intensify our diplomatic initiatives to remind the leading nations of the international coalition against terrorism that they must redeem their pledge to combat and defeat terrorism everywhere, irrespective of the cause it espouses," he said at the annual conference of senior police and intelligence officers in New Delhi.

He said terrorism had "failed to find any place in the conscience of human society. Those who continue to support it will doubtlessly get isolated..."

Asserting that Indian security forces had made "steady advances" in the fight against terror, the prime minister said, "This has made our adversary grow desperate. And desperation is leading it to become more and more dastardly..."

"A good part of this desperation owes to the growing success gained by our security forces in turning the heat on terrorist outfits and infiltration from across the border."

On the situation in the northeast, Vajpayee said peace talks with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isaac-Muivah) had made headway, and similar efforts were also on with other outfits.

"On a parallel track, we are trying to speed up all-round economic and infrastructural development in the northeast," he said.

Referring to the left-wing extremism that was "spreading tentacles in many parts of central and eastern states", Vajpayee asked the police and security agencies to pool their intelligence and experience and undertake coordinated operations on a sustained basis.

He asked them to remain "apolitical, neutral and free of sectarian, regional or any other kind of bias".

The prime minister told them to "spare no pains" in inculcating a sense of duty for protecting communal harmony among the personnel.

Intelligence Bureau Director K P Singh, chairing the conference, sought the government's help in overcoming shortage of staff, equipment and funds.

"The long arm of law should be made the strong arm also," he said.

PTI

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