Tuesday, July 5 2005 18:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Astana (Kazakhstan): Warning that terrorism has become a "transnational activity," India today (July 5, 2005) sought "whole-hearted" cooperation and joint efforts by countries in this region to successfully counter the scourge.

"Terrorism threatens to tear apart the multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious fabric of peace and amity on which all our societies are based as well as to undermine the territorial integrity of our States," External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh told the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit soon after India along with Pakistan and Iran was accepted as observer in the six-country grouping.

Chinese President Hu Jintao, Russian President Vladimir Putin and their counterparts from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgystan and Tajikistan, besides Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, participated in the daylong deliberations.

The leaders highlighted the need for providing stability and security in this region while taking advantage of the great economic potential for mutual benefit.

"Terrorism today has become a transnational activity. Terrorists take full advantage of situations where there is less than whole-hearted cooperation among member-States," Singh said stressing that, "Terrorism can be successfully countered through joint efforts by all States."

In his address, Aziz said, Pakistan "Rejects terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," adding that Islamabad was making efforts to create peaceful conditions in South Asia.