VOIWORLD/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for a united global fight against terrorism and warned against double standards on the issue, delivering the message at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Kyrgyzstan in the presence of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Addressing the summit, PM Modi said wars and conflicts cannot be resolved on the battlefield and called for dialogue and diplomacy to settle disputes.
“There is no solution on the battlefield,” the Prime Minister said, stressing the need for countries to pursue peaceful means to resolve conflicts.
Against the backdrop of the ongoing war in the Middle East, which has disrupted energy supply lines and affected economies worldwide, PM Modi also urged SCO members to strengthen cooperation on regional security and stability.
On terrorism, the Prime Minister said countries must adopt a common position and reject selective approaches.
“We must speak with one voice that there can be no place for double standards on terrorism,” PM Modi said.
He called for dismantling the entire ecosystem that sustains terrorism, including its financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens.
The remarks came with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif in attendance.
India’s position on terrorism has been particularly focused on cross-border terror networks operating against the country. New Delhi has previously accused Pakistan-based groups of involvement in attacks in India and has stressed the need for international action against terrorist financing and infrastructure.
The Prime Minister also called for cooperation on infrastructure projects, while making it clear that such initiatives must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries.
His remarks were seen by analysts as significant given the presence of both the Chinese and Pakistani leaders at the SCO summit. India has repeatedly objected to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), particularly because parts of the project pass through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The SCO summit comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, with the Middle East conflict adding to concerns over energy security, supply chains and the global economy.
