Narendra Modi, Barack Obama in global call to wipe out ISIS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined US President Barack Obama and other world leaders Sunday to seek urgent and united global efforts to combat terrorism as the gruesome Paris attacks, the war in Syria and the fight against Islamic State militants overshadowed the G-20 summit.

The meeting of leaders from 20 top economies, that was to discuss inclusive economic growth and climate change, will adopt a resolution at the end of the two-day meeting on Monday calling for better coordination and exchange of information to cut off funding and a more comprehensive approach on “addressing the conditions conducive to terrorism”. This resolution on terror will be separate from the main summit declaration, officials said.

In his intervention at the summit, Mr Modi noted that the meeting was being held under “the tragic shadow of dreadful acts of terrorism” and that leaders were “united by a sense shock, pain and outrage”.

“We are united in condemning the barbaric attacks in Paris this week and the recent bombings in Ankara and Lebanon. We share the sorrow of Russia for the lost lives in the fallen aircraft in Sinai,” he said. “These alone are a stark reminder of the dark forces we face — larger than specific groups and particular targets and territories.

“It is a major global challenge of our times. It not only takes a tragic toll of lives, it also extracts a huge economic cost and threatens our way of life. It calls for a comprehensive global response. Combating it must be a major priority for G-20,” Mr Modi said.

Earlier, at a meeting of the Brics leaders on the sidelines of the G-20 summit at this Turkish coastal resort town, he said: “Entire humanity must stand together as one against terrorism. The need for a united global effort to combat terrorism has never been more urgent. This must also be a priority for the Brics nations.”

The declaration after the G-20 talks may seek quicker implementation of the Financial Action Task Force recommendations that seek to stop individuals sending money to groups like ISIS and tackle the black market for oil that is seen as the key to their funding. It also plans to prevent terrorists from exploiting technology,

communications and resources to incite terrorist acts, including through the Internet.

US President Obama pledged to redouble efforts to eliminate the Islamic State, and end the Syrian civil war that has fuelled the rise of the jihadist network. He said the Paris terror strikes were an “attack on the civilised

world” and said “the skies have been darkened” by the horrific assault.

Mr Obama pledged solidarity with French President Francois Hollande in the effort to hunt down the perpetrators of the Paris attacks and to bring them to justice. Mr Hollande had to cancel his plans to attend the G-20 summit due to the Paris attacks, in which at least 129 people were killed and hundreds others injured. ISIS later claimed responsibility for the attacks.