New Delhi: Acknowledging that Sep 11 had marked a "turning point" in his country's views on terrorism, US Ambassador to India David C Mulford today (Sep 13, 2004) said terrorists were out to undermine the very pillars of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir, other parts of India, as well as America.

He emphasised that "democratic Governments do not shelter terrorist camps or kill innocent men, women and children" and asserted US "will not allow troubled regions to remain mired in despair and violence".

"9/11 marked a turning point in how the US views terrorism and it was a catalyst that helped our two great democracies forge a closer partnership in global war on terrorism," Mulford said in a message on the occasion of third anniversary of the terror attacks in New York and Washington.

He said Americans were well aware that terrorism was not invented on September 11, 2001.

"Far too many countries around the world have endured tragic attacks for decades and even centuries," he said adding the September 11 attacks, however, demonstrated that today's terrorists "intend to strike to the limits of their power".

"We should have no illusions about the motives of people who murder innocents for political reasons and who seek to undermine the very pillars of our democracies - in New York, in Washington, at the Parliament in New Delhi, in Mumbai, and too frequently in Jammu and Kashmir," Mulford said.

He maintained, "These people are simply terrorists, and we should always be sure to call them exactly that."