Ahead of the Non Aligned Movement summit, India on Thursday asked the 116-nation grouping not to deflect itself from threats posed by terrorism, and make no attempt to justify it.

"No cause justifies terrorism -- political or economic," Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal told reporters after the official level meeting to prepare the agenda for the two-day summit beginning on February 24.

He said it was felt that NAM must take note of the threats posed by terrorism to world peace and "update" its view on the issue.

On Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir Mohammad's remarks that the underlying causes of terrorism should be dealt with, Sibal said, "NAM should not deflect itself from the threats posed by terrorism and "no attempt should be made to justify it."

Asked as to what would be New Delhi's stand if Pakistan raised the Kashmir issue at the summit, he said India has made it clear that NAM was not a forum to take up bilateral matters.

He, however, said that considering the past experience India would not be surprised if Islamabad again raised the Kashmir issue as "a leopard does not change its spots."

Replying to questions, Sibal said India would give its response if Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf raised the Kashmir issue.

On the threat of war against Iraq, Sibal said India made its stand clear that no unilateral action should be taken as it would not resolve the crisis.

A separate committee chaired by Malaysia has been established and it would issue a statement on Iraq, he said, noting that NAM member states have different perspectives on the issue and it would be "premature" to comment on it at this stage.

Sibal said the meeting of senior NAM officials also decided to set up committees on disarmament and on the reported revival of nuclear programme by North Korea.

The meeting also discussed various issues relating to the World Trade Organisation, globalisation, sustainable development, greater South-South cooperation and financial assistance to poor countries burdened by heavy loans.

Some of the NAM states, Sibal said, also voiced concerned over the "nexus" between international terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.

Sibal said that the tone of the latest development is that Pakistan's role in international terrorism continues and even now Taliban and Al Qaeda networks continue to exist in that country.

Sibal said, "There are new dangers to Afghanistan because of the success of the religious extremist parties in elections in Pakistan. Now they are in power in two contiguous provinces (North West Frontier Province and Baluchistan), which have been traditional
platforms for Pakistan's interference in Afghanistan. "And with those kinds of government in power, we can imagine that interference in Afghanistan can become a real issue," he said.

The foreign secretary said, "If Pakistani delegation says they are a target of terrorism, it is not simply correct, as they are deeply involved in terrorism."