Using terror as political tool may harm you also, PM warns nations
Modi’s veiled caution to neighbours backing Taliban govt
UNITED NATIONS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that countries with “regressive thinking” that are using terrorism as a “political tool” must understand that it is an “equally big threat” for them also, in a veiled attack on Pakistan which is accused by its neighbours of providing safe havens to terrorists.
Addressing the 76th UN General Assembly session here, Prime Minister Modi also called for ensuring that no country “tries to take advantage of the delicate situation in Afghanistan and use it for its own selfish interests.”
“Today, the world is facing an increased threat of regressive thinking and extremism. In such a situation, the entire world must make science-based, rational and progressive thinking the basis for development. “On the other hand, countries with regressive thinking that are using terrorism as a political tool must understand that terrorism is an equally big threat for them,” Modi said in an apparent reference to Pakistan. Modi also said that UN must improve its effectiveness and enhance its reliability if it wants to remain relevant, as he highlighted several recent events.
He also said that he represents a country known as the mother of democracy and when Indians make progress, it also gives an impetus to the development of the world as its growth is linked with the globe. “When India grows, the world grows. When India reforms. The world transforms,” Modi said. Mourning the loss of lives lost due to the pandemic, he said India has developed the world’s first DNA vaccine that can be given to everyone above 12. He also gave a clarion call to manufactures across the world: “Come, make vaccine in India.”
Leaders of the Quad countries -- the US, India, Australia and Japan -- have denounced the use of “terrorist proxies” in South Asia, in a veiled reference to Pakistan, as they emphasised the importance of denying any support to terrorist groups which could be used to launch or plan terror attacks, including cross-border attacks.
In a joint statement issued after their first in-person Quad summit at the White House on Friday, US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese premier Yoshihide Suga and his Australian counterpart Scott
Morrison said they will closely coordinate their diplomatic, economic and human-rights policies towards Afghanistan and will deepen their counter-terrorism and humanitarian cooperation in South Asia.
“We denounce the use of terrorist proxies and emphasised the importance of denying any logistical, financial or military support to terrorist groups which could be used to launch or plan terror attacks, including cross-border attacks,” the joint statement said.
The Quad leaders reaffirm that the Afghan territory should not be used to threaten or attack any country or to shelter or train terrorists, or to plan or to finance terrorist acts. They also reiterate the importance of combating terrorism in Afghanistan.
“We stand together in support of Afghan nationals, and call on the Taliban to provide safe passage to any person wishing to leave Afghanistan, and to ensure that the human rights of all Afghans, including women, children, and minorities are respected,” the joint statement said. Pakistan’s neighbours, including Afghanistan, and the US have long accused Islamabad of providing safe haven and support to militants, a charge denied by it. Modi was the first leader invited by host President Biden to address the first in-person Quad gathering in the East Room of the White House.