Nations backing terrorism as part of their foreign policy must be punished: PM Modi

The prime minister said tactical gains against terrorists will soon be lost without a larger strategy aimed at hurting terror finances

In what is seen as a reference to China and Pakistan aiding terrorists targeting India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said certain countries are supporting terrorism as part of their foreign policy while some others make indirect arguments to support it and block action against terrorists.

Modi minced no words when he said cost should be imposed upon countries that support terrorism, as proxy wars are "dangerous and violent" while insisting that international organisations must not think that the absence of war meant peace.

Emphasising that uprooting terrorism needs a larger proactive response and global cooperation, he said countries must pursue terrorists, break their support networks and hit their finances.

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Addressing the third 'No Money for Terror Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing' hosted by the Ministry of Home Affairs here, he warned against organisations and individuals attempting to "create sympathy" for terrorists and that they 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," Modi said at the conference which Pakistan and Afghanistan have skipped.

He said terrorist organisations get money through several sources and one such source was state support. "Certain countries support terrorism as part of their foreign policy. They offer political, ideological and financial support to them," the Prime Minister said.

He also referred to "certain mistaken notions about terrorism in some circles" while emphasising that the "intensity of the reaction to different attacks cannot vary based on where it happens".

"All terrorist attacks deserve equal outrage and action. Further, sometimes, there are indirect arguments made in support of terrorism to block action against terrorists. There is no place for an ambiguous approach while dealing with a global threat," he said.

Modi's reference comes against the backdrop of China continuously blocking India's attempt to get Pakistan-based operatives designated as global terrorists at international forums. As recently as on October 18 and 19, China blocked joint attempts by India and the United States to place Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives Talha Saeed and Shahid Mehmood under sanctions.

The Prime Minister said India had faced the horrors of terror long before the world took serious note of it and terrorism in different names and forms tried to hurt the country over the decades. He said thousands of lives were lost but India fought terrorism bravely.

Modi highlighted the long-term impact of terrorism on the poor and the local economy and said it is all the more important that countries strike at the root of terror financing. "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," he said.

"Fighting a terrorist and fighting terrorism are two different things. A terrorist may be neutralised with weapons. Immediate tactical responses to terrorists may be an operational matter. But tactical gains will soon be lost without a larger strategy aimed at hurting their finances," he said.

He pointed at organised crime as one of the main sources of terror funding, saying these gangs have deep links with terrorist outfits and money made in gun-running, drugs and smuggling is pumped into terrorism.

He said action against organised crime is extremely important in the fight against terror, as these groups help with logistics and communication too. At times, he said even activities like money laundering and financial crimes have been known to help terror funding.

Touching upon the changing dynamics of terrorism, Modi warned that rapidly advancing technology is both a challenge and a solution, as it is being used for terror financing and recruitment.

"Challenges from the dark net, private currencies and more are emerging. There is a need for a uniform understanding of new finance technologies. It is also important to involve the private sector in these efforts. From a uniform understanding, a unified system of checks, balances and regulations can emerge. But we must be careful about one thing. The answer is not to demonise technology. Instead, it is to use technology to track, trace and tackle terrorism," he said.