Wednesday, April 19 2006 17:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: Asserting that the peace initiatives with Pakistan has not failed or slowed down, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today (Apr 19, 2006) said it is an ongoing process which cannot be switched on and off.

"It cannot be switched on and off. It is a continuing process. It is taking time, just as in many other parts of the world. We need not be disheartened," he told reporters here.

Terming international terrorism as the 'biggest menace' to world peace in the post-Cold War era, Mukherjee said terrorists want to sabotage the Indo-Pak peace initiatives.

"The peace process has not failed or slowed down, though that's the intention of the terrorists. They want it sabotaged," he said.

On the question of sending additional troops to Jammu and Kashmir, the minister said "when we withdrew our troops, at that point of time I said that it is our voluntary action,keeping in mind our assessment of the situation prevailing there.

"I had also said then that as and when the state government requires the support of our troops, we will provide them as per their request. I have already instructed (the officials concerned) to respond to the request of the state government to send troops," Mukherjee said.