India calls for collective action to counter terrorism: Khurshid

India Tuesday highlighted terrorism as one of the foremost concerns of the international community and called for enhanced collective action to counter the menace with zero tolerance.

Speaking at the closed-door retreat session of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) here, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid highlighted terrorism as one of the foremost concerns of the international community.

According to well-informed sources, Khurshid in a very spirited intervention emphasised that international terrorism continues to grow in sophistication and reach, confronting many of our countries as a trans-national menace.

All terror is unacceptable and must be tackled comprehensively, sources quoted him as stressing.

Over the last few years, we have seen greater understanding amongst members of the international community that segmented approaches will not work, he said.

He called for "increasing the effectiveness of collective action to counter terrorism with zero tolerance".

"We need concerted and cohesive global action against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," Khurshid said, the sources said.

Foreign ministers of 36 Asian and European countries, deputy foreign ministers of 12 countries and two vice ministers are participating in ASEM - a gathering of 49 countries and two international organisations - the European Commission and the ASEAN Secretariat.

Intervening at a closed-door discussion on regional and international issues, Khurshid highlighted that the principal threat to Afghanistan's security and stability even today emanates from terrorism.

Peace and stability in Afghanistan is in the interest of all of us, he said, according to diplomatic sources.

"Development and security assistance during this period of transition and beyond to Afghanistan would be critical to build a peaceful, stable and resilient Afghanistan," Khurshid said.

"India remains committed to the process of reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan."

He said India supports the efforts made by the Afghan government to establish a peaceful dialogue with all opposition groups. "But this process must be an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned reconciliation process, within the framework of the Afghan constitution and the internationally accepted red lines," he stressed.

The reconciliation process "should not in any way, undermine the political, social, and economic progress witnessed in Afghanistan over the past decade", Khurshid said.