Describing the Mumbai [Images] attacks as the "most gruesome" manifestation of terrorism, India on Thursday asserted that it will use all means at its command to put an end to the cross-border scourge.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee [Images] said Mumbai was chosen as a target by Pakistani terrorists as they wanted to hit India's business and corporate "vistas".

Terrorism [Images] poses multi-dimensional challenges and "the Mumbai attack of 26/11 was only the most recent and the most gruesome example of this scourge of terrorism that needs to be tackled in a resolute manner," he said addressing a meeting of corporate executives.

Quoting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images], he said, "We will spare no effort to deal with terrorist and insurgent groups operating from neighbouring countries. We are determined to put an end to terrorism sponsored from across the border with all the means at our command."

Mukherjee, who also holds the finance portfolio, said "The government is fully aware and seized of the fact that security is not only of paramount importance in the life of the nation but is also deeply intertwined to the running of business in our country."

He said a large number of measures and significant steps had been taken to strengthen the apparatus for dealing with emerging challenges to national security.