Describing terrorism as one of the greatest challenges to global peace and security, leaders of the elite G-8 club today denounced the scourge in all its forms and manifestations regardless of motivation and said that militancy-infested Pakistan and Afghanistan remained a top priority for them.

The G-8 Declaration on Counter-Terrorism, adopted after a summit of leaders, including US President Barack Obama, in this mountain town, said terrorism continued to represent one of the greatest challenges to international peace, stability and security.

"We reiterate, in the strongest terms, our firm condemnation of this phenomenon in all its forms and manifestations. All acts of terrorism - by whomever committed - are criminal, inhumane and unjustifiable, regardless of motivation, especially when they indiscriminately target and injure civilians," it said.

In particular, the G-8 declaration said suicide bombings and recruiting of the young or disadvantaged to carry out such acts as well as abductions and the taking of hostages were repugnant practices.

"We remain convinced that terrorism can be effectively defeated only through multifaceted, collective and coordinated efforts particularly in the fields of information-sharing and capacity-building -- which shall include both short-term provisions and long-term policies," the leaders of the world's eight most industrialised countries said.

In this respect, the declaration said, a central role must be accorded to the universal consensus on counter- terrorism.

The G-8 nations renewed their call for countries to join and fully implement all universal counter-terrorism conventions and protocols.

In their resolution on 'Political Issues', the highly developed countries said Afghanistan and Pakistan remained a top priority for them as both were presented with grave challenges to their security and stability, driven in large measure by the threat from violent extremists and terrorists.

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