US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld makes a point at a joint Press conference with Defence Minister George Fernandes in New Delhi on Monday. Defence Minister George Fernandes and US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld along with their delegation at a meeting on strategic relationship and ongoing war against terrorism at South Block in New Delhi on Monday. — PTI photos

New Delhi, November 5
Sharing India’s concern, the USA today assured that its fight against terrorism was “much bigger than Afghanistan” and that it would go after the terrorist networks wherever they were after the end of its present campaign.

“The US efforts against terrorism are global. I have no doubt in mind that this (the US-led campaign against global terrorism) is much bigger than Afghanistan. Afghanistan is the first problem where Al-Qaida is there killing thousands of innocents. We will be pursuing terrorist networks wherever we find them,” the US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld declared after two-hour intensive discussions with Defence Minister George Fernandes here today morning.

Mr Rumsfeld’s assertion came when he was asked to comment on Mr Fernandes’ reported statement that fight against terrorism would peter out once the problem in Afghanistan was over.

Talking to newspersons, Mr Rumsfeld, who is on a whistle stop tour of five countries said that the USA appreciated India had been specific and cooperative in fighting terrorism which had deeply affected both countries.

The US Defence Secretary, on his first visit to India after taking over charge, emphasised that the effort against terrorism would continue over a period of time because of the increasing availability of weapons, including those capable of mass destruction.

“Each day we have been able to improve. I don’t think there has been a bombing campaign more precise or militarily capable as this one,” he said when asked to comment on Mr Fernandes’ reported comment that “the USA is wasting ammunition.”

On whether he had a different opinion on the tactics that the USA was pursuing in Afghanistan, Mr Fernandes said: “It’s the military men who have to decide the military action. One should accept what they are doing.” About India’s concern regarding terrorist training camps across the Line of Control (LoC), he said the focus had to be on terrorism in a broader sense. Terrorism had affected both India and the USA, he admitted.

Mr Rumsfeld, who has invited Mr Fernandes to visit the USA sometime next year, said India and the USA would have to continue cooperation in providing humanitarian help to the post-Taliban government in Afghanistan. He noted that India had been active in the humanitarian aspect with regard to Afghanistan.

Mr Fernandes said during his talks with Mr Rumsfeld this morning, he discussed the ongoing war against terrorism on a global scale and the kind of developments visualised so far as Afghanistan was concerned.

He said the delegations discussed some specifics on defence-related partnership, including certain items that India needed to acquire, and a relationship of mutual support and collaboration. He had yesterday said that India would be seeking an immediate lifting of ban on hi-tech armaments and systems.