With Pakistan obviously in mind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said terrorism is being “incubated in India’s neighbourhood” and pressed for action without making any distinction against gr
With Pakistan obviously in mind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said terrorism is being “incubated in India’s neighbourhood” and pressed for action without making any distinction against groups like Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, the Taliban and ISIS, which share the “same philosophy of hate, murder and killings”.
In his address to a joint sitting of the US Congress here, he said terrorism has to be fought with “one voice” as he commended the American Parliament for sending out a clear message by refusing to “reward” those who preach and practice terrorism for political gain, an apparent reference to the blocking of the sale of eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.
In the course of his 45-minute speech, he covered all major aspects of the growing relationship between India and the US, particularly strategic ties and civil nuclear cooperation, and emphasised that the two countries should leave the “constraints of the past” behind as the “foundations of the future are firmly in place”.
Dressed in his trademark white kurta-pyjama and grey half-jacket, Mr Modi was warmly received by the American legislators who interrupted his address more than 40 times to cheer him, a few times by standing. When his predecessor, Dr Manmohan Singh, addressed the US Congress in 2005, his speech was applauded 33 times, according to Mr Sanjay Baru, who was the media adviser to the then Prime Minister.
Underscoring that both India and the US share the vision of peace and prosperity of the world, the Prime Minister said “globally, terrorism remains the biggest threat” and it must be fought at many levels” as the traditional tools of military, intelligence or diplomacy alone would not be able to defeat it.
“In the territory stretching from west of India’s border to Africa, it may go by different names, from Laskhar-e-Tayyaba, to Taliban to ISIS. But, it’s philosophy is common: of hate, murder and violence,” Mr Modi said. “Although its shadow is spreading across the world, it is incubated in India’s neighbourhood,” he said, an apparent reference to Pakistan. He said those who believe in humanity must come together to fight against terrorism as one and speak against this menace in one voice.
“I commend the members of the US Congress for sending a clear message to those who preach and practice terrorism for political gain,” Mr Modi said, adding, “Refusing to reward them is the first step towards holding them accountable for their actions.” He was clearly referring to the US Congress recently blocking the sale of F-16s to Pakistan.
Emphasising that “terrorism must be de-legitimised”, he said, “The need of the hour is for us to deepen our security cooperation.” He said cooperation should be based on a policy that “isolates those who harbour, support and sponsor terrorists; that does not distinguish between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ terrorists; and that delinks religion from terrorism.”
The Prime Minister noted that both countries have lost civilians and soldiers in combating terrorism and highlighted how the US stood by India in the aftermath of the terror attack in Mumbai in November 2008, which originated in Pakistan.
Observing that the India-US “relationship is primed for a momentous future”, the Prime Minister said a strong partnership between the two countries can anchor peace, prosperity and stability from Asia to Africa and from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. “It can also help ensure security of the sea lanes of commerce and freedom of navigation on the seas,” he said, adding India is already assuming its responsibilities in securing the Indian Ocean region.
He used the occasion to pitch for UN reforms, saying, “But the effectiveness of our cooperation would increase if international institutions, framed with the mindset of the 20th century, were to reflect the realities of today.”
Mr Modi, who invoked Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda and Atal Behari Vajpayee in his speech, said India and the US, the world’s largest and oldest democracies, had learnt a lot from each other’s philosophies and practices, making them “natural allies”.
“As we deepen our partnership, there would be times when we would have differing perspectives. But, since our interests and concerns converge, the autonomy in decision-making and diversity in our perspectives can only add value to our partnership,” he said, adding, “So, as we embark on a new journey, and seek new goals, let us focus not just on matters routine but transformational ideas.”
He said these ideas should focus “not just on creating wealth but also creating value for our societies; not just on immediate gains but also long-term benefits; not just on sharing best practices but also shaping partnerships; and not just on building a bright future for our peoples, but in being a bridge to a more united, humane and prosperous world. And, important for the success of this journey would be a need to view it with new eyes and new sensitivities. When we do this, we will realise the full promise of this extraordinary relationship.”
