New Delhi, October 29
Germany today said the global war against terrorism must target its all dimensions and extend cooperation to India in the battle against terrorism.

Visiting German Interior Minister Otto Schilly, who had a 90-minute meeting with Union Home Minister L K Advani, shared India’s concern over cross-border terrorism and said “We join the position to extend cooperation in the battle against terrorism and to fight the menace in all its dimensions.”

The joint statement issued after the meeting, in which the post-US attacks situation and global terrorism was discussed threadbare, the two leaders agreed that “the terror is not just directed at the USA, but at the shared values and convictions of all freedom-loving people all over the world.”

“With these cowardly attacks, we have experienced terrorism in a new form which is characterised by a high degree of brutality, coldbloodedness and fanaticism,” the statement said.

Emerging out of the meeting, Mr Schilly told reporters that Berlin “condemned” the blast outside the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on October 1. “It is our common view that terrorist attacks in all its variety have to be condemned”.

Specifically asked about Germany’s stand on cross-border terrorism in J and K, Mr Schilly said “We are against all sorts of terrorist attacks wherever they take place”.

Observing that terrorism is a global threat endangering all civilisations, the German Minister, who is accompanying German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on his three-day visit to India, said Berlin and New Delhi agreed that what had happened in New York and Washington on September 11 “has shown the real dimension of the terrorist network”.

Terming his parleys with Advani as “constructive and good”, he said Germany and India would cooperate to gather “better intelligence” on terrorist networks.

During the meeting the German Minister stressed on the need for increased global action by the security authorities, Mr Schilly said pointing that the UN Security Council Resolution of September 28, 2001 makes an essential contribution to this.

“I discussed with Mr Advani all follow-up measures on the U N Security Council Resolution No. 1373 which obliges all countries to take adequate measures against terrorist groups.

In addition, a comprehensive binding international convention is required to regulate the principles of fighting terrorism and forms of cooperation, he said.

“With its draft for a general UN convention on combating terrorism, India has created an essential foundation...Germany supports India’s efforts.. Our common goal has to be to conclude a comprehensive convention against terrorism as soon as possible through constructive, targeted discussions,” the visiting Minister said.