Amritsar declaration recognises terrorism as biggest threat to peace, names Lashkar, Jaish

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today spoke at the Heart of Asia conference.The Amritsar declaration has condemned state-sponsored terror.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today spoke at the Heart of Asia (HoA) conference.

Jaitley stated that the HoA recognizes terrorism as the biggest threat to peace. He further demanded immediate end to all forms of terrorism.

Today, senior officials of all 14 countries, including India, China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan, and representatives of 17 supporting nations were deliberating on a vast range of issues facing the region including its complex security scenario and dealing with threat of terrorism, radicalisation and extremism.

Being attended by nearly 40 countries and leading groupings like the European Union, the annual conference of the Heart of Asia -- Istanbul Process is deliberating on various challenges facing Afghanistan, including revival of a peace process in the conflict-ridden country.

In the international conference, Afghanistan called for immediate elimination of terrorism to help the war-ravaged country in its political and economic transition.

AFGHANISTAN CALLS FOR ELIMINATION OF TERROR

The Amritsar Declaration, issued after the 6th ministerial 'Heart of Asia conference - Istanbul Process on Afghanistan' in this Punjab city near India's border with Pakistan, "recognises terrorism as the biggest threat to peace" and demanded "immediate end to all forms of terrorism".

Citing the declaration, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who chaired the meeting in the absence of ailing External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, said: "We remain concerned by high level of violence in Afghanistan caused by Taliban, terrorist groups including Al Qaeda, Daesh (Islamic State) and its affiliates."

"We strongly call for concerted regional and international cooperation to ensure elimination of terrorism, including dismantling of terrorist safe havens in the Heart of Asia region, as well as disrupting all financial and logistical support for terrorism.

Here are the highlights:

• We realize that  radicalisation of youth can only be prevented by effective de-radicalisation strategies involving all HoA countries: Amritsar declaration
• We recognize the necessity of taking serious measures to address recruitment of youth to extremist &terrorist networks: Amritsar Declaration
• We encourage early finalization of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism with consensus: Amritsar Declaration
• Dismantle  of terrorist safe havens in HoA region, as well as disrupting all financial  and logistical support for terrorism:  Amritsar Declaration
• We strongly call for concerted regional and international coup to ensure elimination of terrorism in all its forms: Amritsar Declaration
• Acknowledging support that terrorism derives in our region; demand immediate end to all forms of terrorism,as well as support and financing to it: Arun Jaitley
• We remain concerned by high level of violence in Afghan caused by Taliban, terrorist groups including ISIL, DAISH and its affiliates Let, JeM etc
• Several pacts were signed at the conclave held in Amritsar of Punjab.
• The additional $1B help from India will focus on infrastructure building, water management, skills development in Afghanistan.