Sri Lankan PM Says Modi’s Efforts Ensure War Will Not Take Place

His visit comes a week after India, citing Pakistan’s sponsorship of terrorism, pulled out of the SAARC summit.

File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe before their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, on Wednesday claimed that a war between India and Pakistan is unlikely due to Narendra Modi’s efforts to defuse tensions.

I do not think that war (India-Pakistan) is an option, your Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) has taken a lot of steps to defuse tensions.

Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

Wickremesinghe is in India to meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi and hold bilateral talks with Modi.

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File photo of Ranil Wickremesinghe with his wife Maithree after the swearing-in as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. (Photo: AP)

His visit assumes significance as India, citing Pakistan's sponsorship of terrorism in the region last week, had pulled out of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit that was scheduled to be held in Islamabad in November.

Afghanistan and Bangladesh had a problem of their own internal security, we did not; but after four nations pulled out of SAARC, we too did. Cross border terrorism is a big issue (in SAARC) and we have to discuss how to tackle it. In first week of November there will be joint talks between ministers of foreign affairs and fishery (of India-Sri Lanka).

Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

Following India's move, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan also followed suit, citing the same reason, virtually isolating Pakistan in the region.

(With IANS and ANI inputs)