India recognises Iraq's achievement over IS

Kuwait City [Kuwait], Feb 14 (ANI): India on Wednesday recognised Iraq's achievement over Islamic State (IS) and its allies, branding it as the war-torn country's "historic victory."

"This is an opportunity for the world to congratulate the people and government of Iraq for their historic victory over a vicious contemporary menace ISIS, and its allies, who used a volatile fusion of false ideology and barbaric terrorism to become a regional epicentre of upheaval and violence against innocent civilians and legitimate government," Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar said while addressing the International Conference for Reconstruction of Iraq in Kuwait.

"We must recognise this achievement in the best way possible: through meaningful assistance that fashions a reborn Iraq on the ashes of war," M J Akbar added.

The minister underscored, "Our focus must be on both Iraq and the Iraqi, and in particular the youth. We must win both the battle and the argument."

"The answer to terrorism lies in security, prosperity and reaffirmation of sovereignty. The three sustain each other; any indifference or complacency towards any side of this triangle will make the rehabilitation process infructuous," he further stated.

The minister used the occasion to remind the international community of the need for an early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, a draft of which was proposed by India as early as 1996.

"Terrorism, fundamentalism and extremism are the scourge of the 21st century. We must be united in our defence of pluralism and civilisation without ifs and buts," Akbar added, "There is no 'good terrorism' or 'bad terrorism', all terror is an unmitigated evil. India has always supported a free, democratic, pluralistic, federal and unified Iraq."

The Kuwait International Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq kicked off on Monday in Kuwait City with the focus on postwar reconstruction of Iraq and vital issues concerned.

The three-day meeting was be co-chaired by Kuwait and Iraq, as well as the United Nations, the European Union and the World Bank. (ANI)