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HYDERABAD, India, Friday (AFP) Indian Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani said Thursday the international community had recognised the "epicentre of terrorism" and rising religious fundamentalism had shifted to Pakistan.

"Even the international community has slowly realised that the epicentre of international terrorism has shifted to Pakistan from Afghanistan," Advani told reporters on a two-day visit to the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

"Rising religious fanaticism and intolerance in Pakistan bodes ill for lasting peace and stability in the subcontinent and to the world at large."

He added that the threat of terrorism to the world had become even more evident after the October 12 bomb blast on the Indonesian island of Bali that left more than 190 dead.

Advani, who is also home minister, said India had been subjected to a "proxy war" from Pakistan despite a clear agreement after the last war in 1971 that the two nations would resolve their differences through dialogue.

"Having lost in three wars to India in 1947, 1965 and 1971 Pakistan knows it is disastrous to tread on the open warpath. It is now inflicting damages on us by waging a proxy war in the shape of cross-border terrorism in Kashmir.

"The Simla accord clearly states that if there is a dispute between us it should be solved by dialogue and not violence. But for dialogue to take place Pakistan has to first stop indulging in terrorism," he added.

After the 1971 war between India and Pakistan, which led to the creation of Bangladesh from East Pakistan, both countries signed the Simla Accord and agreed to settle their differences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations.

India accuses Pakistan of backing militants who are waging an armed rebellion in its zone of Kashmir. Pakistan denies the charges and says it extends only diplomatic and moral support to an "indigenous" movement. 

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