Pakistan received this major diplomatic set-back when the issue came up for discussions at the ministerial and official level meetings of the NAM. An overwhelming majority of member countries felt that Washington's attack on militant camps in Afghanistan cannot be equated with its strikes on Sudan.

While the NAM is yet to formulate its response on attacks on militant camps on Saudi billionaire Osama bin Laden, it was already agreed to condemn the US action on a pharmaceutical company in Khartoum.

Pakistani representatives were working hard for the last few days to convince and persuade NAM members to accept its proposal for a common resolution on Afghanistan and Sudanbut there were not many takers for their theory. Pakistan was left with no option but to give up its efforts.

Interestingly senior officials of US government who arrived here to seek observer status for their country were overtly and covertly lobbying for toning down of the NAM resolution on its attacks.

The NAM in its resolution on the US attack on Sudan felt that the action was a ``serious violation of principles of international law and UN charter and contrary to the principles of peaceful settlement of disputes.''

The resolution stated that ``such acts are a serious threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sudan and to regional stability and international peace and security.

``The NAM condemns this act of aggression and continuing threats made by US against Sudan.'' it urged Washington to refrain from such unilateral acts.

NAM sources said that India had played a vital role in delinking of the grouping's approach on attacks on Sudan and Afghanistan. The Indian government alsobelieved that the Taliban was providing training in arms to mercenaries who operate in Jammu & Kashmir.

The Arab countries, which form a dominating group in the NAM, were eager to have a strongly worded resolution on Sudan but most of them were not keen to have an identical resolution on strikes in Afghanistan.

India also received a boost when its consistent efforts to mobilise international support for eradication of terrorism bore fruit.

The NAM accepted the Egyptian proposal which called for an international summit conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organised response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The Egyptian proposal is similar to India's position on combating the menace of terrorism. India has proposed an international action plan to fight and tackle terrorism.

A further boost to Indian diplomatic efforts came when the NAM expressed its serious concern on the role of mercenaries in acts of terrorism. Theconcern vindicates India's position that it is facing terrorism being exported and executed by mercenaries from across its border in Jammu & Kashmir.

While making its standpoint, the Indian representative said the country was a serious victim of cross-border terrorism and hence was keen that there should be a major initiative to fight terrorism which posed a serious challenge to the sovereignty of a number of countries.

The resolution said that the UN organs should take appropriate decisions, consistent with its charter, to fight and eradicate terrorism. It emphasised that international cooperation to combat this menace should be conducted in conformity with the principles of UN charter. It suggested strengthening of international legal regimes for combatting terrorism.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who arrived here last night, is expected to make a strong plea for coordinated action against terrorism.