Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed Pakistan for nurturing terrorism on its own soil and urged the countries of BRICS-BIMSTEC to send clear message to all those who have given safe haven to terrorism on their soil that they mend their ways or be isolated.
The Prime Minister’s remarks came during the two-day BRICS, a bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, summit in Goa. PM Modi also held the meeting the leaders of countries in Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Corporation (BIMSTEC).
In the first BRICS-BIMSTEC meeting, which was also attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Jacob Zuma and Brazilian President Michel Tamer, PM Modi said, “Terrorism, radicalization and transnational crimes grave threats to each of us.”
Bangaldesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hassina, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena along with Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Myanmar’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Bhutanese Prime Minister Tsering Tobgay were present among the BIMSTEC nations during the summit.
“They not only threaten the lives of our nationals, they also block our march towards economic prosperity,” said PM Modi.
In a clear reference to Pakistan Modi said, “In South Asia and BIMSTEC, all nation states, barring one, are motivated to pursue a path of peace, development and economic prosperity for its people. Unfortunately, this country in India’s neighborhood embraces and radiates the darkness of terrorism.”
“Terrorism has become its favourite child. And, the child in turn has come to define the fundamental character and nature of its parent,” he added.
Urging the BRICS and BIMSTEC nations to take action, PM said, “The time for condemning the state-sponsored terrorism is long gone. It is time to stand up and act, and act decisively. It is, therefore, Imperative for BRICS and BIMSTEC to create a comprehensive response to secure our societies against the perpetrators of terror.”
However, the clear differentiation between India and other BRICS nation on the issue of terrorism exposed in the Goa declaration, in which China did not mention Pakistan as a root cause of terrorism or the issue ban on Jaish-E-Muhammd chied Masood Azhar. President Xi Jinping, instead, said that there should be a dialogue to counter terrorism. Russian President Vladimir Putin also ignored the issue of cross-border terrorism by Pakistan.
According to the experts, the other BRICS nation apart from India does not have any threat from Pakistan-sponsored terrorist activities and hence they do not want to talk on the issue. However, the countries have condemned recent attack on Indian Army camp in Uri and has agreed that there should be no excuse whatsoever to the issue of terrorism.
By Prajakt K.
