Australia on Thursday said there was 'irrefutable' proof that Pakistan was a source of terrorism and there had been support for terrorist outfits in the country for many years.

"Pakistan has been one of the sources of terrorism and the Taliban really developed out of Pakistan during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan," Australian Foreign Minister

India, Australia ink anti-terrorism pact

Alexander Downer told PTI when asked about visiting External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha's remarks in an Australian newspaper that 'Pakistan is the epicentre of world terrorism'.

"There has been support in Pakistan for terrorist organisations over many years. The evidence there is irrefutable," he said.

Downer said Australia was 'very concerned' about boarding schools and private Islamic educational institutions being used as breeding grounds for people 'who have gone on to become fundamentalists, extremists and in some cases terrorists'.

"Since 9/11, the US and other countries have made it clear to President (Pervez) Musharraf that it is enormously important that Pakistan does not only something about (these institutions).

"We certainly feel that along the Pak-Afghan border Al Qaeda people are moving in and out. We would like Pakistan to take stronger action along that border to try to seal the border," Downer said.