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According to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, the terrorist strikes have proved that they hamper the foreign investment prospects of India.
"Over the years, the terrorist activities have expanded to many new areas across the length and breadth of the country. Analysis of the recent terrorist incidents and targets of the terrorist groups reveal a distinct pattern and indicate a sinister design. Terrorist strikes are mainly directed towards prominent pillars of the Indian economy," said Azad while addressing the international conference on terrorism organised in New Delhi by the Jama Masji United Forum.
He cited the examples of the Jaipur terror strikes as well as Mumbai terror attacks that happened last year.
These attacks, he said, "point to the larger game plan of terrorists, which is to destabilise the country".
"The phenomenal growth of the Indian economy in the post liberalisation period, giving India a growing influence in the international arena, has made it a potential target of the terrorists," Azad said, stressing that terrorism can have "many detrimental effects from an economic standpoint".
"Terrorist incidents create a sense of uncertainty, vitiate the general atmosphere and have an adverse impact on international investors. It naturally affects the FDI flow, which is vital for economic growth.
"Given the competitiveness among economies in the world, India's foreign investment prospects may therefore be adversely affected," he said, elaborating on the "detrimental effects" a terror attack could have on the economy.
