Taking a sharp dig at Pakistan, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said state-sponsored terror from “governed spaces” is more dangerous compared all other types of terror.
“While not without basis, what is even more dangerous is terrorism from governed spaces. In fact, terrorism actively supported and sponsored by states. To expect that an activity which draws on all the ills of the world – fanaticism, crime, bloodshed and illegal trade – will not have a corrosive impact beyond its intended arena is unrealistic,” Swaraj said here on Wednesday.
Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, Swaraj said, the challenge is even more severe in a digital age, with greater propensity to radicalization.
She said due to the 9/11 precedent, people associate terrorism with ungoverned spaces. She added that in today’s society, terrorism is the mother of all disruptions and that an act of terror can threaten societies everywhere.
“Terrorism is undeniably the mother of all disruptions today. Our attitude towards it has evolved in the last few decades. There was a time when it was seen as other people’s problem or a law and order situation. Not just that, it was also actively utilized as an instrument of statecraft. That time has long gone by,” she said.
Swaraj also said, just as terrorism, nuclear proliferation cannot be addressed effectively in a segmented manner. Fuller disclosure and greater accountability are a must.