New Delhi, Oct 6 : Union Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma has welcomed Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari''''s remarks that militants operating in Jammu and Kashmir are terrorists.

Zardari''''s statement describing militants in Kashmir as terrorists, who were earlier called jehadis, was termed by Sharma to be a confirmation of India''''s assertions all these years.

"India had always raised the matter of cross-border terrorism on international fora and Zardari''''s statement confirms this", Sharma said.

Sharma also hoped the neighbouring country will honour Zardari''''s words to combat the menace through action.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said that Zardari''''s statement would usher in a new chapter in Indo-Pak relationship and pave a firm foundation for bridging the divide between the two countries. (ANI)