The Hindu : Fernandes sees spurt in terrorism

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 22, 2003

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National

Fernandes sees spurt in terrorism

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE MARCH 21. The Defence Minister, George Fernandes, said here on Friday that the war in Iraq may cause an increase in terrorism, including that directed against India. Speaking at the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) after witnessing the first flight of the Intermediate Jet Trainer manufactured here, Mr. Fernandes said "India and other countries may have to face terrorism of greater intensity than seen earlier. Terrorism could come as individual, group, or self-destructive tactics.'' India had always been on the hit-list of terrorists, it is the prime target in the region, and will be under greater pressure, he told presspersons. However, the war in Iraq would not have much impact on the Indian economy, he added.

The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, had repeatedly told world leaders, including the U.S. President, George W.Bush, that the issue should be resolved through dialogue and not conflict, Mr. Fernandes said. The military action had serious implications for the future of the United Nations and for the security of all nations. The U.S. decided to undermine the authority of the U.N. and took a unilateral decision to attack Iraq even as a debate was going on in the U.N. India had not been consulted by any country about a regime change in Iraq, he added.

"The U.S. had made it very clear that its objective is to have a new government in Iraq. When the U.S. is acting completely outside the U.N., the question of it consulting countries such as India is out of the question'' he said.

IAF to evacuate Indians

The Indian Air Force is also assisting in the evacuation of Indians who want to return from the Gulf region because of the war, Mr. Fernandes said. So far, 85 to 90 per cent of the Indian nationals in the war zone had been brought back and the rest would be evacuated within a day or two. The Crisis Management Group of the Government was actively monitoring the situation, he said.

PTI reports:

The IJT was flown for 10 minutes and it did a few manoeuvres. It would replace the ageing HJT-16 Kiran basic jet trainers.

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