'Pak must create space for talk'

Hitting out at Pakistan for raking up the Kashmir issue at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday offered to engage in a serious bilateral dialogue but asked the neighbour to create an “appropriate environment” that is free of “the shadow of terrorism”.

In a clear rebuff to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, who had on Friday sought a plebiscite in Kashmir, Modi said, “Raising issues in this forum is not the way to make progress towards resolving issues between our two countries.”

In his maiden address to the 193-member UNGA, Modi did not directly refer to Sharif, who had attacked India on Kashmir in his speech to the forum on Friday. But he asserted that Pakistan must take responsibility to create an appropriate environment for a bilateral dialogue to promote friendship and cooperation.

He underlined that his government placed the highest priority on advancing friendship and cooperation with its neighbours, including Pakistan. Speaking in Hindi, Modi said, “I am prepared to engage in a serious bilateral dialogue with Pakistan in a peaceful atmosphere, without the shadow of terrorism, to promote our friendship and cooperation.”

He made references to the rise of terrorism in various parts of the world where the menace was “taking new shape and new name” and said no country, big or small, was free from its threat.

Without naming Pakistan, Modi said, “Even today, states allow terrorist sanctuaries on their territory or use terrorism as instruments of their policy.”

Modi’s 35-minute address covered a number of subjects such as terrorism, including its resurgence in West Asia, reforms of the United Nations, including the Security Council and the need for a more inclusive global development.


But he asserted that Pakistan must take responsibility to create an appropriate environment for a bilateral dialogue to promote friendship and cooperation.

He underlined that his government placed the highest priority on advancing friendship and cooperation with its neighbours, including Pakistan. Speaking in Hindi, Modi said, “I am prepared to engage in a serious bilateral dialogue with Pakistan in a peaceful atmosphere, without the shadow of terrorism, to promote our friendship and cooperation.”

He made references to the rise of terrorism in various parts of the world where the menace was “taking new shape and new name” and said no country, big or small, was free from its threat.

Without naming Pakistan, Modi said, “Even today, states allow terrorist sanctuaries on their territory or use terrorism as instruments of their policy.” Modi’s 35-minute address covered a number of subjects such as terrorism, including its resurgence in West Asia, reforms of the United Nations, including the Security Council and the need for a more inclusive global development.