Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal

SINGAPORE: India's anti-terror initiative, with the central focus on the need and ways to combat the financing of terrorist activities, has been placed on the agenda of the ongoing 116th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). The IPU, now in session in Bali (Indonesia), will finalise a resolution on the anti-terror issue before the conclusion of the Assembly on May 4.

Incorporating the Indian proposal, the IPU on Tuesday mandated a panel to draft the relevant resolution on the lines of "international cooperation to combat terrorism, its root causes, and its financing, including cross-border funding." The Indian parliamentary delegation, led by Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, had originally suggested the theme of "combating financing of terrorism - the need to strengthen international cooperation."

While India emerged as the driving force behind the overall anti-terror initiative of the IPU, it is understood that Indonesia, the host, and Algeria campaigned proactively for addressing some critical dimensions of the problem. While Indonesia sought to turn the focus on the "root causes" of terrorism, Algeria drew attention to how "cross-border funding" was sustaining terrorism.

Iran, which too played an active part in evolving the integrated anti-terror theme, emphasised the relevance of international law to combat the menace. Some countries drew attention to the current centrality of Iraq to any international moves to tame the terrorists.

Parliamentarian Najma Heptulla is representing India in the committee that has been tasked to draft the IPU's anti-terror resolution.

In the IPU Assembly general debate on global warming, Mr. Atwal said the primary onus to "reduce the threat of climate change" rested with the industrialised countries "in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities." He asked the developed bloc to "exercise leadership" to reduce greenhouse gas emissions "and not try and renegotiate the [international] compact" on this issue.

In addressing the climate change issues, the international community should "remain cognisant of the imperative of poverty alleviation," Mr. Atwal said and called for "forward-looking action" within the current frameworks of multilateral discussions.

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