India has demanded stopping forthwith the patronage of powerful forces and institutions within Pakistan to the groups involved in anti-India acts. <br/><br/>Delivering the keynote address at a conference on Indo-US relations in the national capital, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said, New Delhi faces hostile forces from across the border with that country.<br/><br/>Describing cross-border terrorism faced by India as a pivotal security challenge, she said, India has consistently stressed support for the advancement of democracy there in an atmosphere of peace.<br/><br/>She also sought greater Indo-US cooperation and more frequent consultations on security-related issues including the threat of international terrorism and the evolving security architecture in Asia. Mrs. Rao noted, there is a growing consensus that the increase in terrorist activities in Afghanistan is linked to the support and sanctuaries available in the contiguous areas of Pakistan.<br/><br/>The foreign secretary said, it is equally critical for the US and the global community to pay adequate attention to and realise the situation both in Afghanistan and Pakistan and that the cross-border terrorism that emanates from Pakistan against India are manifestations of the use of terrorist ideologies to promote unscrupulous political or institutional agendas.<br/><br/>Talking about the challenges and opportunities presented by India's land and sea borders, she said the challenge is security-related.