UN defends stand on terrorism after Modi’s criticism

UNITED NATIONS: The UN has defended its stance against terrorism saying it is “certainly” trying to take a responsible attitude in dealing with the menace, days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the world body over the issue.

“We certainly are trying to take a responsible attitude in terms of dealing with terrorism and the spectre of terrorism worldwide... The UN encourages international solidarity against terrorism in all its aspects, whether it is terrorist bombings or terrorist financing,” deputy spokesman for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Farhan Haq told PTI.

Haq was asked about UN chief Ban Ki-moon’s response to Modi’s sharp criticism in Brussels last week when the Indian leader had said the world body does not know what terrorism is and how to deal with it.

Haq said in the next few days, the UN will hold a meeting in Geneva on the need to prevent and to counter violent extremism.

“And the Secretary-General will be speaking at that — in terms of the specific measures that we’ve been talking about, in terms of handling violent extremism and its spread throughout the world, and the Secretary-General will speak at that in just a few days from now,” he said.

Modi’s visit to Brussels came just days after the Islamic State carried out attacks that ripped through the departure area of the international airport and a subway station in the busy morning hours in the Belgian capital.