At G7 Summit, PM Modi urges global action against terrorism

This was the prime minister’s first plurilateral engagement after the April 22 terrorist attacks in Pahalgam.

New Delhi: There must not be any place for double standards when it comes to combating terrorism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the G7 leaders, questioning why the international community used sanctions as a tool to promote self-interest but kept on rewarding the nations known for sponsoring terror.

 “On the one hand, we are quick to impose various sanctions based on our own preferences and interests. On the other hand, nations that openly support terrorism continue to be rewarded,” Modi said, speaking at an outreach session held on the sidelines of the G7 summit held at Kananaskis, Alberta, in Canada early on Wednesday. “I have some serious questions for those present in this room.”

“Are we truly serious about addressing terrorism?” the prime minister asked, adding: “Will we understand the true meaning of terrorism only when it knocks on our own doors? Can those who spread terror and those who suffer from it be weighed on the same scale? Are our global institutions at risk of losing their credibility?”

This was the prime minister’s first plurilateral engagement after the April 22 terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and India’s launch of ‘Operation Sindoor’ early on May 7, targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan as well as in areas under the illegal occupation of Pakistan.

With Pakistan retaliating by targeting military facilities and civilians in India, a cross-border military flare-up ensued and continued till May 10.

Though many nations condemned the April 22 carnage, most of them refrained from calling out Pakistan for persistently sponsoring terrorism against India. During the May 7-10 military offensive and counter-offensive by India and Pakistan, several nations urged New Delhi to exercise restraint or work with Islamabad to diffuse tension.

President Donald Trump of the US and his administration re-hyphenated India and Pakistan and, despite New Delhi’s rebuttals, claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire between the two South Asian nations.

A senior US Army commander showered praises on the Pakistan Army for hunting down the ISIS-K terrorists and called it a “phenomenal partner” in counterterrorism.

 “Terrorism is the enemy of humanity. It stands in opposition to all nations that uphold democratic values. Unity in the fight against terrorism is imperative,” Modi told the G7 leaders.

“Unfortunately, our own neighbourhood has become a breeding ground for terrorism. For the sake of global peace and prosperity, our thinking and our policies must be extremely clear – any country that supports terrorism must be held accountable and made to pay the price.”

He said that turning a blind eye towards terrorism for the sake of vested interests, or extending support to terror or terrorists, was a betrayal of all humanity.