Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday suggested a multi-pronged approach for combating international terrorism, an issue which figured in all the meetings addressed by him at different places here during the day.
Making an intervention at the East Asia Summit (EAS), he emphasised the need for building a new global resolve and new strategies for combating terrorism, without balancing them against political considerations.
“No country should use or support terrorism. [Ensure] there is no distinction between groups; there are no sanctuaries; there are no funds; there is no access to arms. But, we also have to work within our societies and with our youth,” Mr. Modi said. Pointing out that terrorism was “no longer a peripheral problem” for the region, the Prime Minister said the “barbaric terrorist strikes in Paris, Ankara, Beirut, Mali and on the Russian aircraft are stark reminders that its shadow stretches across our societies and our world, both in recruitment and choice of targets.”
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Later, addressing the Indian diaspora at the Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre, he said that terror was the biggest problem faced by the world today and stressed the need for delinking religion from terror. “It [terrorism] knows no boundaries. It uses the name of religion to draw people to its cause but kills people of all faiths.”
Peace was fundamental for a prosperous future and ultimately, “it all depends on those who believe in humanity and those who do not.”
He underlined the need for ensuring that the Internet did not become a “recruiting ground” for terrorism, amid the growing trend of the Islamic State luring youth from across the globe, and spoke about the world coming together to use “military force” and “international legal systems” to fight the menace.
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Mr. Modi said India drew strength from its diversity and his government was working to create an environment where enterprise flourished and everybody got basic needs like shelter, sanitation, water, health care and education.
Development in India was “gathering speed now” amid the global slowdown and the country was growing at 7.5 per cent with faster growth expected in the coming years.
( With inputs from PTI )