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India fought terrorism bravely: PM Modi

Identifying the growing need to strike and formulate a global strategy against the increased threat of terrorism, India held the third 'No Money For Terror' Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing in New Delhi on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the conference, emphasised that the world needs to unite in its fight against terrorism. He also highlighted several of the growing challenges in the changing world dynamics, including the rapidly advancing technology used by terrorists to spread the message of hatred.

Asserting that India has been a victim of terrorism for a decade, PM Modi, addressing the conference, touched upon the different forms and tactics used by the conflicting parties to hurt India.

"It is significant that this conference is happening in India. Our country face the horrors of terror long before the world took serious note of it. Over the decades, terrorism in different names and forms tried to hurt India. We lost thousands of precious lives, but we have fought terrorism bravely," PM Modi said.

Voicing India's position in the forum, PM Modi also yield for a uniform, unified, and zero-tolerance approach against terrorism. Further emphasising that the intensity of the reaction to different attacks cannot vary based on where they happen, PM Modi said a firm approach is needed while dealing with the "gravest threat to humanity'. It is pertinent to note that New Delhi could be seen advocating the same from the powerful United Nations Security Council (UNSC) platform time and again, with the EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar leading India's voice from the front.

Of the several major points been discussed during the high-level meeting, PM Modi also pitches for the joint collaboration against fighting the menace of terrorism. Calling it a subject that impacts entire humanity, PM Modi asserts that striking at the root of terror financing is more important.

"The long-term impact of terrorism is particularly hard on the poor and on the local economy. Be it tourism or trade, nobody likes an area that is constantly under threat. And due to this, the  livelihoods of people are taken away. It is all the more important that we strike at the root of terror financing," PM Modi added.

In one of the most significant statement from the conference, PM Modi in strongest term criticized entities favouring indirect arguments made in to block action against terrorists. The veiled reference could be seen made in context to certain countries blocking the India's and other countries bid to outcast terrorists and their linked outfit at the powerful UNSC platform. Further shedding light on the threats and implications possessed due to state sponsored terrorism, PM Modi castigate and lambasted countries supporting terrorism as part of their foreign policy.

Criticizing the issue, PM Modi said, "Certain countries support terrorism as part of their foreign policy. They offer political, ideological and financial support to them. International organisations must not think that the absence of war means peace. Proxy wars are also dangerous and violent. There must be a cost imposed upon countries that support terrorism, Organisations and individuals that try to create sympathy for terrorists must also be isolated. There can be no ifs and buts entertained in such matters. The world needs to unite against all kinds of overt and covert backing of terror."

It is pertinent to note that several multilateral forums, including the UNSC, FATF, Financial Intelligence Units, and the Egmont Group, have tightened its grip around countries supposedly promoting the above two ills.

Addressing the forum, PM Modi also vouches for a proactive response to uproot the grave threat. PM Modi said to halt the growing threat an immediate response like breaking their support networks and hit their finances should be adopted.

 

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