Wednesday, May 10 2006 10:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jammu: Stating that 59 militant training camps are operational across the Line of Control (LoC), Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee yesterday (May 9, 2006) asked Pakistan to demolish the infrastructure of support for terrorists.

Mukherjee also said the Al-Qaida, "Always a threat to India whether it is in the borders or in our neighbourhood or in the region".

Briefing the media at the airport here after visiting Kulhand in Doda district and Basantgarh in Udhampur district where militants killed 32 Hindus last week, he said he would like to remind Pakistan that terrorists "Are not the friends of anybody. Cross-border terrorism has no affiliation and terrorists are a menace for the world." Pakistan should not allow terrorists to use its territory and their infrastructure should be demolished so that a message is sent out that militants have no support," he said.

New Delhi has often accused Islamabad of failing to deliver on its January 2003 commitment that it would not allow terrorists to operate from its territories. Pakistan denies the Indian charge.

Stating that he did not want to interfere in the internal affairs of Pakistan, Mukherjee said no state should support terrorism or seccesionism as part of state policy.

"If it does, it will have to pay the penalty," he said in reply to a question.