Terror from Pakistan not acceptable: Sarkozy

MUMBAI - French President Nicolas Sarkozy Tuesday said it was unacceptable that terrorist attacks originate in Pakistan and the 26/11 strike in Mumbai proved terrorism is “nothing but criminal activity”.

“We know of the price the Pakistan population is paying for terrorism but it is not acceptable for the world that terrorist attacks originate from or (terrorists) are trained in Pakistan,” Sarkozy said while addressing a commemorative event for 26/11 victims at the Oberoi-Trident Hotel here.

“The Mumbai attack proved one more time that terrorism is nothing but criminal activity. It pretends to act for political or religious objectives, but it is just savagery. It pretends to serve ideals but it injures them through its acts,” Sarkozy said in French.

At least 166 people, including two French nationals, were killed in the November 2008 attack on Mumbai by 10 Pakistani terrorists who sneaked into the city by sea.

“For us all who are explicitly threatened by the Al Qaida and its accomplices, it is not enough to protect ourselves from such attacks. We must find a way to prevent them from repeating themselves. It is not acceptable that terrorist groups operating from neighbouring territories are able to threaten the security of India,” said Sarkozy.

“It is not acceptable for Afghanistan and our troops in Afghanistan that Taliban and Al Qaida should find refuge in the frontier zones of Pakistan.”

While the president was dressed in a black suit, blue shirt and a navy blue tie, his wife Carla Bruni stood beside him, wearing a white outfit.

Sarkozy is on a four-day visit to India that began Dec 4.