In a veiled reference to Pakistan, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that state sponsorship of terrorism is the biggest threat to world peace and suggested a global conference on terrorism within a stipulated timeframe like the world summit on climate change.
Addressing the Maldivian parliament on Saturday, Modi said, “It is indeed extremely unfortunate that even now some people resort to the fallacy of distinguishing between the so-called good and bad terrorists.”
“We have lost enough time debating these artificial differences. It is now no more tolerable. All forces supporting humanity must come together to effectively fight terrorism,” he said. He said, “Terrorism is a very big challenge of our times....faced by one nation or region only....but for all humankind. Not a day goes by when the horrific face of terrorism does not show itself and takes an innocent life somewhere.”
Without naming Pakistan, the Indian PM said “Terrorists do not own banks. They don’t have their own armament factories. But neither money nor weapons seem to be in short supply for them. Where do they get these from? Who provides them the facilities they need? State sponsorship of terrorism is the biggest threat.”
“The litmus test for today’s leadership is the way they deal with the dark forces of terrorism and radicalisation. The international community has actively arranged for global convention and many conferences on the grave threat of climate change. Why not on the issue of terrorism?” Modi said.
He called upon all global institutions and all leading nations to organise a global conference on terrorism within a stipulated timeframe so that there can be meaningful and result-oriented discussions for plugging the loopholes that terrorists and their supporters exploit.
“If we delay action any further, our current and future generations will never forgive us,” Modi said.
A joint statement issued after Modi’s visit to the Maldives said he and Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ‘reaffirmed their unequivocal and uncompromising position against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations both within the region and elsewhere’. In this context, President Solih thanked India for providing capacity-building support to the Maldives’ National Defence Forces.
Recognizing that security interests of India and the Maldives are interlinked in the region, the two leaders reiterated their assurance of being mindful of each other’s concerns and aspirations for the stability of the region and not allowing their respective territories to be used for any activity inimical to the other, according to the joint statement.
Modi and Solih jointly inaugurated a Composite Training Facility of the Maldives National Defence Force in Maafilafushi, and a Coastal Surveillance Radar System that will help protect the Maldives’s Exclusive Economic Zone. As both the leaders emphasized the need to improve connectivity between the two countries through the establishment of enabling infrastructure, the two countries signed an agreement to launch a passenger-cum-cargo ferry service between Kochi (India) and Kulhudhuffushi and Malé (Maldives). Modi and Solih urged officials of the two countries to expeditiously implement the project.
Both sides agreed to set up a Joint Working Group on counter terrorism, countering violent extremism and de-radicalisation. Modi was on a two-day official visit to the Maldives, his first overseas diplomatic engagement since becoming Prime Minister for a second straight term on May 30. President Solih conferred on Modi the Maldives’ highest civilian honour Nishan Izuzueen in recognition of the ‘many services he has performed to cement the long-standing amicable ties between the two countries and for the assistance the Indian government continues to provide to the Maldives’.