Thursday, September 28 2006 12:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: In an apparent reference to Pakistan, India yesterday (Sept 28, 2006) asked the international community not to tolerate the actions of the 'sponsors and abettors' of terrorism or those who wilfully fail to prevent terrorists from utilising their territories.

The world community should unite against terrorism, "one of the most crucial issues of our times", and take "practical measures" to fight it, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said addressing the UN General Assembly session here.

Emphasising that the notion that any cause can justify terrorism should be rejected collectively and unanimously, he strongly advocated the need for early finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention against International Terrorism (CCIT) which would provide the requisite legal framework upon which counter-terrorism strategy could be based.

Mukherjee also favoured universal disarmament, saying it was the best non-proliferation measure and asked the international community to take immediate steps to eliminate the threat of use of nuclear weapons.