Pak terror mothership, need decisive action to defeat menace: Indian PM Modi

Benaulim, Oct 16 (PTI) : Calling Pakistan a “mothership” of terrorism world-wide, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today sought decisive global action such as systematically cutting off funding, weapons supply, training and political support to terror outfits and asserted that selective approach to deal with the menace will be not only futile but also counter- productive.

In his address at the BRICS summit here, Modi forcefully condemned Pakistan saying a country in India’s neighbourhood shelters not just terrorists but nurtures a mindset that proclaimed that terrorism was justified for political gains.

“In our own region, terrorism poses a grave threat to peace, security and development. Tragically its mothership is a country in India’s neighbourhood. Terror modules around the world are linked to this mothership,” he said told Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Michel Temer and South African President Jacob Zuma at the BRICS Summit’s “restricted” segment.

In his remarks at the BRICS plenary session, the Prime Minister said response to terrorism must be nothing less than comprehensive and that countries must act both “individually and collectively”.

“Criminality should be the only basis for punitive action against the individuals and organizations responsible for carrying out terrorist acts. Terrorist funding, their weapons supply, training and political support must be systematically cut off,” he said.

Modi also called for early adoption of the draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism saying doing so will be an expression of “our resolve” to fight the menace.

“In the world we inhabit today, security and counter-terrorism cooperation is necessary if we are to secure the lives of our citizens. Terrorism casts a long shadow on our development and economic prosperity.

“Its reach is now global. It has grown more lethal and adept at the use of technology. Our response to terrorism must, therefore, be nothing less than comprehensive,” the Prime Minister said.

He said selective approaches to terrorist individuals and organizations will not only be futile but also counter-productive and that there must be no distinction based on “artificial and self-serving grounds”.

In this respect, Modi said there was a need to deepen the security cooperation among the National Security Advisors.

During his bilaterals with Putin and Xi yesterday, Modi had strongly articulated India’s concerns over terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

The Prime Minister stressed that those supporting terrorism have to be “punished, not rewarded.”

“The growing arc of terrorism today threatens Middle East, West Asia, Europe and South Asia,” he said.

“Its violent footprint puts at risk the security of our citizens and undercuts our efforts aimed at economic growth,” he added. .