Move will hit ties, says Home Ministry

The Centre will oppose a Private Member’s Bill moved in the Rajya Sabha recently seeking to declare countries like Pakistan “terror states.”

Independent Member of Parliament Rajeev Chandrasekhar had moved The Declaration of Countries as Sponsor of Countries as Sponsor of Terrorism Bill, 2016 to impose legal, economic and travel sanctions on citizens of countries which promote terror. The Bill came up for discussion on February 3.

The Home Ministry has written to the Parliament Secretariat opposing the Bill as it jeopardises international relations under the Geneva Convention.

“We have diplomatic relations with the neighbouring country which includes High Commissions as well as trade relations. It will be not prudent to declare any country as a terror state as India is bound by international norms,” said a senior government official.

Engagement continues

India has accused Pakistan of instigating terror attacks but the two countries have maintained diplomatic relations even during the Kargil war and Operation Parakram.

Last year, India asked its officials in Pakistan High Commission to not send their children to schools there and return them to India.

While presenting the Bill, Mr. Chandrasekhar said, “For decades, India and other countries in the region have been victims of terror attacks from organisations and individuals based in and with the support of elements in Pakistan. Yet for decades we have remained engaged with Pakistan in an attempt to draw it into the mainstream. Pakistan’s track record of fostering terrorism and terrorists is long and incontrovertible… It is time that we stop running to other countries to declare Pakistan a terror state and stood up and did this job ourselves.”

A private member’s Bill can be enacted into a law once it has been screened by a House committee, which is optional, and passed by a majority vote. Parliament adjourned for the recess and will resume on March 9; there is a probability that the Bill might again be taken up for discussion.

Mr. Chandrashekhar had said that from 1998 to January 29, 2017 as many as 14,741 civilians had been killed in terror attacks in India and 6,274 security force personnel lost their lives. As many as 23,146 terrorists were also killed.