Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a firm stand on the need to combat terrorism on Sunday, at the ongoing ASEAN summit in Malaysia. In the light of the recent terror attacks in Paris, he said that terrorism is no longer a peripheral problem for the East Asian region alone.
We often thought of terrorism as a peripheral problem for this region. The barbaric terrorist strikes in Paris, Ankara, Beirut, Mali and on the Russian aircraft is a stark reminder that its shadow stretches across our societies and our world, both in recruitment and choice of targets.- Narendra Modi, Prime Minster, India
Modi urged for a global resolve against terrorism, without attaching the strings of political considerations, in ensuring that no country uses or supports terrorists.
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. We must stand together to send a clear message that we will not retreat in the face of terror.- Narendra Modi, Prime Minster, India
He also welcomed the commitment to disconnect religion from terrorism. Modi reaffirmed India’s active participation in the ASEAN led security dialogue and cooperation forums.
India hopes that all parties to the disputes in the South China Sea will abide by the Declaration on the Conduct on South China Sea and the guidelines on the implementation. Parties must also redouble efforts for early adoption of a Code of Conduct on the basis of consensus. We must also continue to strengthen cooperation on non-proliferation. We will remain active participants in the ASEAN-led security dialogue and cooperation forums.- Narendra Modi, Prime Minster, India
With the example of India and Bangladesh’s recently resolved maritime dispute, Modi said that territorial disputes must be settled through peaceful means.
Trans Pacific Partnership is also a major development. These, I hope, will eventually not become competing regimes, but the foundations of an integrated economic community in the region. India will continue to support the efforts of our partner countries.- Narendra Modi, Prime Minster, India
The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Sunday that he has urged Russia and the United States to cooperate on rooting out terrorism.
All these terrorists and ideology extremists should be defeated in the name of humanity. In that regard, we need to unite. We need to show global solidarity to address the common enemy of ISIL, Daesh, some other extremists and terrorist groups.- Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General, UN
U.S. President Barack Obama said at the same summit the United States and its allies would not relent in the fight to combat Islamic State extremists and would hunt down their leaders and cut off the group’s financing.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday he wanted global cooperation to combat terrorism after Islamist militants killed 19 people, including six Russians, in an attack on a luxury hotel in Mali.
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