The following is the text of the opening remarks of the Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the House International Relations Committee in Washington yesterday:

~I am delighted to be here with you again. I warmly recall my interaction with you last year. We are meeting in difficult circumstances in the life of your nation, but also at a time which has shown the true resilience of the American people.

You are well aware of our strong sense of outrage at the brutal acts of September 11 and at the cowardly sequel of Anthrax in the mail. I would once again like to convey the solidarity of the people of India with you in your campaign against terrorist networks in Afghanistan and in your determination to act against terrorism everywhere in the world.

As victims of terrorism over the last two decades, we are conscious of the fact that unless this menace is tackled in a global and comprehensive manner, it will repeatedly raise its ugly head in various regions in the world.

It obviously follows from this that the battle against terrorism cannot end in Afghanistan. It has to address similar manifestations elsewhere. While tackling terrorism in Afghanistan, if members of our coalition are permitted to indulge in terrorist adventures elsewhere, it would defeat our objectives.

When I was in Moscow yesterday, President Putin reminded us that the suppression of terrorism in one place also restrains terrorists elsewhere. Conversely, condoning of terrorism anywhere encourages terrorism everywhere. The long-term security of our democratic values depends on an understanding of this.

Our reaction of anger to the brutal terrorist attack on the Jammu & Kashmir legislative assembly on October 1 again brought this fact home to us. We are conscious of the need not to threaten in any way the prospects of our international coalition in Afghanistan, but at the same time we need to be assured that our own security will not be affected.

As legislators yourselves, you would understand the compulsions of an elected leader.

My visit to USA will embrace more than our cooperation with the international coalition against terrorism.

In recent years, your vision as Congressmen, added to the efforts of the government, have opened new avenues for India-US cooperation. We have reinforced mutual trust and confidence.

Our dialogue on defence and security matters has widened considerably in scope and content.

As contours of global changes in the aftermath of September 11 become clearer, we expect that the new challenges in the world order will draw the two countries into an even closer cooperative relationship.

It cannot be otherwise in a partnership between two pluralist democracies, where close bilateral relations enjoy popular support across the political spectrum in both countries.

Thank you.~