If it’s trade for Trump, it’s terrorism for Modi. As they navigate the exceptionally tricky waters of the G-20 this year, the two leaders may spar on the first, but certainly have a strong agreement on the second.
Despite the recent noise in the media on the issue of the US Religious Freedom Report – which was nothing but a rather rambling summation of random incidents – and the withdrawal of the GSP (Generalised System of Preferences) which impacts less than $190 mn of annual bilateral trade, the fact remains that the Trump administration has come down far harder on terrorism emanating from Pakistan than any previous leadership, however pretty to look at or better behaved.
At the informal BRICS meeting therefore, Prime Minister Modi pulled no punches in declaring terrorism:
“The biggest threat to all of the humanity. It not only takes the lives of innocent people, but it has a huge adverse effect on the economic progress and social stability. We have to stop all the means of support and help available to terrorism and racism.”
That last reference being a casualty of translation from a rather higher standard of Hindi than most can digest including apparently MEA staffers. He was referring in fact to the effects of terrorism on societal stability.
Continuing from his speech in Sri Lanka earlier, he chose to reiterate the call for a Global Conference on Terrorism, shifting the emphasis from India’s long held ( and repeated) call for the CCIT (Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism) since 1996.
Some things do get stale in terms of public attention, and as always, the prime minister is one who likes to put his own imprint on long-held Indian positions. A reference to terrorism was also apparent in his brief remarks at the meeting of the RIC ( Russia India China) leaders.
It was not all just talk. As President Putin chose to note, foreign ministers and top security officials had met to coordinate action against terrorism and drug trafficking among other challenges. As Foreign Secretary Gokhale later pointed out, there was agreement on tackling terrorism in various areas including financing and the use of digital platforms.
If Modi was sure of US support on terrorism, he was likely to have been equally sure of a different kind of support at both forums.
China has been stressing terrorism for its own reasons, and this was apparent at the Beijing dominated Bishkek meeting recently, where much of the Joint Declaration was dominated by terrorism. China’s focus is against “double standards” (read Xinjiang ), while Russia remains seriously concerned on terrorist groups in Afghanistan.
These concerns, even if springing from other issues, nonetheless serves to send a certain message. Terrorism cannot pay, for any reason, for any cause and at any time whatsoever.
There were obviously other issues at the G-20 meeting that directly concern India. At the various meetings taking place, the issue of US tariffs and rising protectionism was being freely discussed. But here’s the thing.
India is keeping steady on its call for a final push against terrorism, with the difference that this time round, its being echoed by others in the vicinity.
Sure, they do it for other reasons, mainly their national interests. But catch one terrorist, and you put another in difficulties. A truism that India frequently used, that terrorism knows no borders, is finally here in its entirety. And the parts of the world who matter are moving in on it. That’s one up to New Delhi. There’s more to come. Watch this space.
(Dr Tara Kartha was Director, National Security Council Secretariat. She is now a Distinguished Fellow at IPCS. She tweets at @kartha_tara. This is an opinion piece and the views expressed above are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses, nor is responsible for them.)
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