Udhampur: Asserting that terrorism was continuing in Jammu and Kashmir even after the joint Indo-Pak statement in Islamabad, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today (April 30, 2004) said terrorists were targeting Indian Democracy which they wanted to dismantle.

However, he said the peace initiative with Pakistan would go on.

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"Terrorism is still continuing in Kashmir. Even after the Indo-Pak joint declaration in Islamabad, terrorists are killing innocent people, political workers and threatening others," he said addressing an election rally of Union Minister of State for Defence and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Udhampur, Chaman Lal Gupta.

"They (terrorists) are not at war with India, but with the Indian Democracy which they want to dismantle. That is why they are targeting political leaders and activists and threatening the electorate in Jammu and Kashmir. Despite their best efforts, India is emerging more powerful on the international scene," Advani said.

The security forces have been asked to continue with the counter-insurgency operations, he said, adding, "These operations will not stop till the last militant is wiped off."

However, the Deputy Prime Minister said this would not have any effect on the peace process which would continue till relations between the two countries were completely normalised and Kashmir issue resolved.

"Vajpayee ke hotey hoye Kashmir masle ka nidhan ho ga (Kashmir issue will be resolved during Vajpayee's period)," he added.