Stop being terror haven: France to Pak

France has asked Pakistan to stop terrorists from launching strikes from its territory

France has asked Pakistan to stop terrorists from launching strikes from its territory and has said that the situation in Afghanistan remains dangerous as the Taliban is still getting unacceptable assistance from outside forces.

The fight against terrorism is not the fight of one civilisation against another. It is the fight of civilisation against barbarity. We will therefore strengthen our cooperation. We urge Pakistan to do everything in its power to prevent terrorists from launching strikes from its territory, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said in a speech at the embassy on Friday.

Holding that India and France are in profound agreement on terrorism,Juppe said the recent attack in the capital was proof that the threat of terrorism remains present. Also alluding to Pakistan,Juppe said the Taliban continue to receive outside support in its fight against coalition troops.

Wherever the situation allows,the coalitions combat troops are withdrawing and Afghan national security forces are taking over. But the situation is still dangerous and will remain so. We all know that the Taliban are still receiving unacceptable assistance and support from outside of Afghanistan, he said.

On bilateral relations,Juppe endorsed a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for India and said that the strategic partnership between the two countries is a rational choice.

He said India and France are also determined to work together in the area of civil nuclear power and the Fukushima disaster does not change the view that nuclear energy will be a key component in energy supply for the future.

On defence cooperation,Juppe said the two armed forces are consulting each other on a regular basis and have recently conducted their first joint land exercise.

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While he did not refer to the ongoing $10 billion tender to procure new fighters for the Indian Air Force that is in the final stages,Juppe said France has several major potential projects for sale of military hardware.

Of course,there is legitimate competition. In that competition,France is offering India two elements which I think are vital. Firstly,a partnership rather than a commercial relationship. Secondly,the certainty of having in France a reliable,constant and long-term partner,that has chosen technological and political independence for itself, he said.