London: Describing Pakistan as the "epicentre of terror", an independent institute here has said the terrorists would not have been so powerful today if the US and Britain had helped India in its war on terror in Kashmir and other parts of the country.

"The Globalisation of Terror knows no creed, colour or caste. Had the US and Britain helped India in its own war on terror in Kashmir and in India itself the terrorists would not be in the powerful position as they are today," the V K Krishna Menon Institute said.

Calling Pakistan "the epicentre of terror," it said "politicians in India must give the security forces a freer hand even though it may displease the religious bigots...."

Cyriac Maprayil, spokesman of the Institute said "the new America and India can still do business with each other and see off the plague of terrorism, If India return to the tried and tested virtues of Non-Alignment."

Meanwhile, the Pakistan-India and UK Friendship Forum has described the terror attacks on Mumbai as cowardly.

"Terrorists have no religion except to terrorise people ... Their prime aim is to kill as many innocent people as they possibly can and to further their agenda with violence, death and destruction.

"This is because they cannot achieve their aims on their merits in a secular and democratic India, where equality for all is enshrined in the Constitution regardless of colour or religion," it said in a statement.

Rami Ranger, Chairman of the Forum, said "... History has shown that India has always emerged united and stronger after atrocities committed against her people."

"It is now clear that no country is safe from such barbaric and inhumane acts perpetrated by a misguided few. The people of the world must unite to fight this evil. This is our common war and we can defeat them."
Source : PTI