Thursday, September 28 2006 12:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: With questions being raised on the scope of the proposed Indo-Pak joint mechanism against terror, New Delhi yesterday (Sept 27,2006) underlined it is mandated to address all forms of scourge and that there is no confusion with regard to the definition of the menace.

"The anti-terrorism institutional mechanism agreed to between India and Pakistan in Havana is clearly mandated by the September 16 joint statement to identify and implement counter-terrorism initiatives and investigations," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said here.

He was reacting to a claim by Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin that the new mechanism will have nothing to do with so-called "freedom fighters".

"There is no doubt in our minds as to what constitutes terrorism and it is clear that the group is mandated to addres all forms of terrorism," Sarna said.

New Delhi has maintained that indulgence in violence and killing of innocent people cannot be construed as 'freedom struggle'.