Acts of terror a 'clarion call' for believers in humanity to unite, says Sushma Swaraj

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday stated that the recent acts of terror in Sydney and Peshawar was a clarion call for all those who believe in humanity to defeat terrorism, adding that India will always be ready to play its role in such an undertaking.

Swaraj was reacting to Monday's hostage crisis in Sydney, where an alleged self-proclaimed cleric took 17 people, including two people of Indian origin, hostage in a cafe in that city; and Tuesday's strike on a school in Peshawar, where members of the banned terrorist organisation Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan killed 141 people, including 132 students, before being gunned down.

"The events of the last two days were on two different continents; in different hemispheres; on our two opposite flanks. While seemingly disparate, both are manifestations of the darkening shadow of terrorism," Swaraj said, while addressing the Lok Sabha. Both these developments, taken together, are a clarion call for all those who believe in humanity to join hands to decisively and comprehensively defeat terrorism. On our part, India stands ready to play our role in this global endeavour," she added.

Speaking in detail of the incident in Sydney, Swaraj said that the Indian government was in constant contact with the Australian authorities, adding that the bravery of the hostages is commendable.

"Terrorism raised its ugly head on December 15, when an armed person held 17 people hostage in Sydney, Australia. At about 9.45 am local time, in Lindt Cafe in Martin Place, a busy part of Sydney's Central Business District, a hostage drama unfolded. The hostages included Pushpendu Ghosh and Viswakanta Ankireddy, both young IT professionals from Infosys. Our Government maintained close contact with Australian security agencies to monitor security of Ghosh and Ankireddy. The Prime Minister himself was constantly monitoring the whole situation," she said.

"The hostage drama ended after over 14 hours at about 2.00 am local time on December 16. Both Ghosh and Ankireddy were rescued safely and were in good health. We admire their bravery in such testing times," she added.

Swaraj further stated though the Indian consulate in Sydney had been shut down during the incident, consular services had never ceased during that time.

"Once the details of the siege were apparent, we also ensured the safety and security of the officials working at our Consulate in Sydney, which is located barely 350 metres from the cafe... However, consular services like visa, passport, OCI and PIO cards, continued as normal," she said.

Swaraj also talked of the terrorist attack in Peshawar, terming the incident as 'barbaric brutality' and stated that India strongly condemns the occurrence.

"Even before the reverberations from the terrorist attack in Sydney to our East ended, one of the most horrific killings in recent times was perpetrated on our west, in Peshawar. The enormity of this crime; the cowardly nature of the massacre; the barbaric brutality of the killing of 132 innocent school children and 9 others, yesterday, has evoked revulsion all around," she said.

"Our government has swiftly and strongly condemned this. Prime Minister Modi reflected the entire nation's feelings, when he termed it 'a senseless act of unspeakable brutality'... Prime Minister Modi, in a late night conversation with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, informed him that the people of India shared the heart-rending pain and sorrow of the bereaved families and the people of Pakistan and stood with them in solidarity," she added.