New Delhi, May 2 (IANS) Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Monday called the killing of Osama bin Laden a "historic development, but urged the international community to continue to work towards eliminating "safe havens" for terrorists in "our own neighbourhood".

In a statement Monday, Krishna said the operation to kill the world's most wanted terrorist and Al Qaeda founder in Pakistan's Abbotabad "brings to closure an almost decade-long search for the head of the Al Qaeda".

"It is a historic development and victorious milestone in the global war against the forces of terrorism," said the minister, noting that thousands of innocent lives had been lost to terrorism over the years.

But he warned that this victory did not mean the end of terrorism and pointed out that there were still terror groups operating out of Pakistan.

"The world must not let down its united effort to overcome terrorism and eliminate the safe havens and sanctuaries that have been provided to terrorists in our own neighbourhood. The struggle must continue unabated," said Krishna.

He was alluding to the presence of several terror groups in Pakistan, like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, which masterminded the Mumbai terror attack.