Hollande, Modi urge action against JeM, Haqqani, 26/11 perpetrators
Hollande, Modi urge action against JeM, Haqqani, 26/11 perpetrators
France on Monday joined India in turning on the heat on terror on Pakistan. France and India called on Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the 26/11 attacks of 2008 to justice and “to ensure that such attacks do not recur in the future”. France also joined India in demanding action against terror groups Lashkar-e-Tayibba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizbul Mujahideen, and the Haqqani Network. Both countries also pointed out that “terrorist activities and proxies supported from safe havens across Afghanistan’s borders pose a grave threat to peace, security and stability of Afghanistan”. PM Modi and President Francois Hollande also condemned terror attacks across the world including the recent attacks at Paris and Pathankot.
The joint statement on counter-terrorism iss-ued by the two countries read, “Stressing that terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstance, regardless of its motivation, wherever and by whomsoever it is committed, both leaders asked for decisive actions to be taken against Lashkar-e-Tayibba, Jaish-e-Moh-ammad, Hizbul Muja-hideen, Haqqani Net-work and other terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda. Condemning the recent terror attacks in Pathankot and Gurda-spur in India, the two countries reiterated their call for Pakistan to bring to justice their perpetrators and the perpetrators of the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, which also caused the demise of two French citizens, and to ensure that such attacks do not recur in the future. President Hollande commended India for its stabilising role in South Asia, in particular in Afghanistan, and its recent initiative to launch a comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan. The two sides noted that terrorist activities and proxies supported from safe havens across
Afghanistan’s borders pose a grave threat to peace, security and stability of Afghanistan. They emphasised the need to address this challenge by dismantling terrorist sanctuaries and safe havens and disrupting all financial and other support for terrorist groups and individuals.”
PM Modi said, “From Paris to Pathankot, we saw the gruesome face of the common challenge of terrorism ... I also commend the strength of your resolve and action on these terrorist attacks. President Hollande and I have agreed to scale up the range of our counter-terrorism cooperation in a manner that helps us to tangibly mitigate and reduce the threat of extremism and terrorism to our societies.
We are also of the view that the global community needs to act decisively against those who provide safe havens to terrorists, who nurture them through finances, training and infrastructure support.”
“The ISIS is provoking us but we are determined to take the right decision. We will strike them time and again and those who kill our children. I would like to thank you for the support in dire circumstances. France will never forget. We have decided to strengthen our cooperation against terror,” President Hollande said.
“Agreeing on the imperative of having a comprehensive approach to address terrorism, India and France resolved to step up their bilateral cooperation, under the supervision of annual strategic dialogues and joint working group on counter-terrorism meetings, to counter violent extremism and radicalisation, disrupt recruitment, terrorist movements and flow of foreign terrorist fighters, stop sources of terrorist financing, dismantle terrorist infrastructure and prevent supply of arms to terrorists. To this end, they committed to further develop exchanges in the fields of intelligence, finance, justice and the police. They welcomed the strengthening of the cooperation between Indian and French counter-terrorism authorities and units, in particular between their cybersecurity experts,” the joint statement said.
“Recognising the urgent need to disrupt terrorist networks and financing channels, eliminate terrorist safe havens, training infrastructure and cross-border movement of terrorists, Prime Minister Modi and President Hollande underlined the need for all countries to effectively deal with terrorism emanating from their territory or territories under their control. They called for actions to be taken, consistent with international law, against all entities, including states that sponsor, provide support active or passive to terrorist groups or harbour them,” it added.
“Reaffirming that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group, India and France agreed to coordinate efforts to better understand the radicalisation processes, and counter the misuse of religion by groups and countries for inciting hatred, perpetrating and justifying terrorism or pursuing political aims. They agreed to facilitate regular exchanges of civil society to promote the values of peace, tolerance, inclusiveness and welfare. They reaffirmed their shared conviction and confidence that the values of humanism will prevail in countering the malicious propaganda of hatred and intolerance espoused by the divisive forces of extremism and terrorism,” the statement further said.
