Los Angeles: Declaring that the epicentre of international terrorism lay in Pakistan, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani has said a strategic relationship between India and US is as an "important component" to fight Jihadi terrorism which is a threat to the security of the two countries.

"The epicentre of international terrorism lies in India's immediate neighbourhood. It gives me no joy in pointing fingers, but the involvement of Pakistan can no longer be ignored," Advani said at the World Affairs Council on June 11.

Advani said that India and the United States have to work in active partnership to defeat the menace of terrorism fuelled by religious extremism.

"I would say that this is an important component in the strategic relationship between our two countries, because jihadi terrorism is a threat not only to the security of our two countries, but to peace and tranquillity around the world," he said.

Pointing out that India had been a victim of terrorism for more than two decades, Advani said that the sponsors and instigators of this menace hailed from the same common pool that also provides (support to) the terrorists that have been active against the United States.

He said India was determined to see that the scourge of terrorism is decimated, and urged Pakistan to "heed the voices of sanity and give up its futile path of confrontation with India."

PTI