Describing terrorism as a "pervasive and insidious" threat to global security, India has sought a concerted action to root out its networks and deter regimes from encouraging and harbouring armed extremists.

Addressing the 192-member UN General Assembly on Friday, Indian Ambassador to the global body, Nirupam Sen, asked the world to act as one in denying terrorists, their ideologues and financiers access to arms, funds and means of transportation of their deadly goods and safe havens.

About the measures taken by New Delhi, Sen said India has adhered to existing regulatory framework governing controls over weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.

It has strengthened these obligations by enacting Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery System (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005, an "overarching and integrated legislation prohibiting unlawful activities relating to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems," he said.

To fight terrorism concertedly, he recommended to member states early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention Against International Terrorism (CCIT) to reinvigorate multi-lateral and collective dimensions of counter-terrorism efforts.

Failure of member states to reach an agreement on the definition of the terrorism is holding up the Convention. Some had been advocating that liberation movements should be excluded from the definition.

In his address, Sen repeated the Indian position that terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, irrespective of its motivation, is a "criminal and unjustifiable" act and "no cause, no matter how just, can excuse terrorism."

He termed the menace a "pervasive and insidious" threat to global security and core values of the UN. We have appropriate controls in place for the enforcement of effective customs, immigration and border controls that are necessary to prevent the movement of terrorists and the establishment of safe havens," Sen said.

Referring to "intricate linkages and networks" that unite terror groups, he said they can only be challenged through concerted international cooperation and efforts by way of extradition, prosecution and information flows.

"India is engaged in these efforts at the regional as well as bilateral level."

India believes that capacity-building is one of the essential elements in combating terrorism, Sen said, noting that the Strategy in its entirety recommends an expanded role for the existing counter-terrorist legal and institutional framework within the UN to enhance capabilities of member states to combat terrorism.

"India remains willing to provide all assistance in the larger effort to counter the threat of terrorism," he said.

"We are willing to share information with relevant UN entities and provide assistance bilaterally or multilaterally, especially to countries that are themselves not directly threatened by terrorism, but whose participation is vital to the success of the larger international effort," Sen told the Assembly.