PM calls for global endeavour to fight terrorism

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday joined parliamentarians in the Lok Sabha to mourn the victims of the carnage at a Pakistan school, as India called upon the international community to launch a “global endeavour” to “decisively and comprehensively defeat terrorism”.

A day after Taliban militants stormed into a school and killed at least 144, including 132 children, at Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, India joined its western neighbour in grief with both the Houses of Parliament observing silence to pay homage to the victims.

The Lok Sabha, where the prime minister was present, adopted a resolution, condemning the “despicable, senseless, horrendous and cowardly terrorist attack” in Pakistan. Chairman M Hamid Ansari led the Rajya Sabha in deploring the “senseless and brutal cowardly act”.

Modi’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval drove to the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi to offer condolence on behalf of the prime minister and the Government of India. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made a statement in both the Houses on the back-to-back incidents in Australia and Pakistan.

“The events of the last two days were on two different continents; in different hemispheres; on our two opposite flanks. While seemingly disparate, both are manifestations of the darkening shadow of terrorism...all those who believe in humanity (must) join hands to decisively and comprehensively defeat terrorism. On our part, India stands ready to play our role in this global endeavour,” Swaraj said, referring to the siege at Sydney on Monday and the attack on school at Peshawar on Tuesday.

“The whole of India is shocked and stunned to learn about this unbelievable carnage by the terrorists. No words are adequate to express our pain and agony on the killing of innocent schoolchildren,” Doval wrote on the condolence book at the High Commission of Pakistan.

India stood by Pakistan after Taliban militants massacred Peshawar schoolchildren.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Wednesday moved a resolution in the Lok Sabha, expressing “shock, sense of deep outrage, profound sorrow” and condemning “the despicable, senseless, horrendous and cowardly terrorist attack”. The resolution stated that all barbaric terrorist attacks, against innocent people, especially vulnerable children, should not be tolerated and harshest and exemplary punishment should be meted out to the perpetrators of such heinous crimes.