India has said the security of the Gulf countries as well as of the wider Middle East is of "paramount concern" to the country and it is ready to contribute to the stability of the region by sharing its experience in combating terrorism.
"Security in Iraq and this region is a global issue and we are ready to contribute to the security and stability of this region in any manner feasible," India's Special Envoy to the Middle East Chinmaya Gharekhan said speaking on regional security and international cooperation at the second Gulf Security Conference in Bahrain.
"We could identify areas for co-operation, like sharing our experiences and expertise in combating terrorism, maritime security and military training," he said.
Talking about the menace of terrorism, he said India has been a victim of terrorism for much longer than other countries and that countries which harbour or sponsor terrorists must be brought to book.
Observing that the over-riding preoccupation of the international community in recent years has been with the emergence of terrorism as a global phenomenon, he said, "India has been no stranger to this menace, and has been a victim of terrorism for much longer than other countries."
"Recently about two weeks ago, an Indian citizen, who was engaged in helping the people of Afghanistan in building its roads, was brutally murdered by the Taliban," he was quoted as saying in the Gulf Daily News Monday.
Gharekhan said recent events in Iraq have brought home the fact that a politically unstable area can become the spawning ground of terrorists.
"Linkages with illicit trafficking in narcotics, as well as in small arms have enhanced the destructive potential and lethal reach of the terrorists," he noted.
"The fight against terrorism has to be long-term, sustained and comprehensive. It cannot be ad hoc, selective or compartmentalised in terms of region or religion. No terrorist network can sustain itself without a safe haven and without external support," he added.
Talking about India's support to the people of Iraq and Palestine, he said, "We strongly support the right of the Iraqi people to freely determine their political future and control their natural resources."
"We are confident that the forthcoming elections on December 15 will see the involvement of all the people of Iraq, leading to the formation of a truly representative government," he said.
As for the Palestinian issue, support for the cause has been a central feature of India's foreign policy since even before India achieved independence in 1947, he said. "We believe that there can be no military solution to the Palestinian issue."
The three-day conference was organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Indian delegation included New Delhi-based National Security Council Secretariat Deputy Director Kapil Kaul as well as Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty.
Ministers from the GCC, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Singapore, the UK and the US were among those taking part in the conference. China, India and Germany joined them for the first time.
