Pak has to dismantle terror infrastructure: Chidambaram

Making it clear to Pakistan that arrests of one or two persons in connection with the Mumbai attacks was not enough, Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday said it has to dismantle the terror infrastructure to end the menace.

He also asked Islamabad to declare zero tolerance towards the scourge.

"If the terror infrastructure remains intact, it is like riding a tiger. You know what happens to ride a tiger. They have to dismantle terror infrastructure and declare zero tolerance to terrorism," he told a press conference after reviewing security situation in Andhra Pradesh.

Chidambaram said eternal vigilance is a price of liberty as well as security. Appreciating the efforts taken by Andhra on the security front, the minister said urban policing have to be one of the main focus.

"Urban areas face graver threats. Urban policing will have to sharply improve. There is nothing as business as usual anymore," he said.

The minister said the state is forming a 256-strong commando force on the lines of NSG. "They will be trained by the NSG and will be effective as NSG," he said.

He expressed hope that they would be able to zero in on land for setting up the NSG hub in Hyderabad. "We have discussed the matter," he said.

On the coastal security front, the Home Minister also suggested to the Andhra Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy to provide mobile phones to fishermen in coastal areas like the Kerala government did.

"I have suggested Andhra government to adopt the Kerala model by providing mobile phones to fishermen. If they see suspicious activities or person in the sea, they can inform the local police," he said.