In the second attack on Pakistan in just a few days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hit out strongly at the neighbouring country, saying, “There is one country in our neighbourhood whose competitive advantage rests exclusively in producing & exporting terrorism”. “We continue to expand and deepen our economic engagements”, Mr. Modi said.
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During the 14th India-ASEAN Summit and the 11th East Asia Summit, Mr Modi also had bilateral talks with South Korean President Park Geun-Hye and Premier of host of the summits Thongloun Sisolith. Modi said terrorism along with “growing radicalisation and [the] spread of extreme violence” presented a “local, regional and transitional” security threat, PTI reported.
Laos broke tradition when it chose to have the 28th and 29th Asean Summit Meetings, besides holding related meetings.
“The time has come to isolate and sanction this instigator”, Modi said. “For us a terrorist is a terrorist”, PM Modi said in yet another speech that was openly targeted at Pakistan on an important worldwide forum. PM Modi went on to say, “Terrorism is the most serious challenge to open and pluralistic societies; combating it requires collective effort”. “India committed to Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity”, he said.
But with recent turbulence over outstanding disputes and the dynamic landscape of Asian geopolitics, Jokowi has grown increasingly concerned about regional stability, especially in regard to attempts by external parties to project their interests onto the region.
At the related meetings today, the prime minister continued to lead Malaysia at the EAS meeting, Asean-India meeting and Asean-United States meeting.
Obama is scheduled to address a news conference in Laos immediately after his meeting with Modi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday returned home after attending two summits at Laos.
“We can share experience and build partnerships for protection of marine resources, prevent environment degradation and tap blue economy”, the Prime Minister said. “In particular, the USA president expressed confidence that the passage of GST will unleash significant economic activity”, sources said.
This was also the first meeting between Mr Modi and Mr Obama after the countries inked a landmark agreement on sharing each other’s military logistics.
There was no immediate word on what topics the leaders would be discussing, but reporters were allowed in at the start to watch them shake hands for the cameras.
They voiced support for China’s proposals in Belt and Road Initiative construction, production capacity cooperation and interconnection.
The two sides should also have regular unofficial meetings between defense ministers to promote defense cooperation and promote a more substantial progress in the ministerial dialogue mechanism on law enforcement and security, he said. Modi praised President Obama for his contribution to the relationship and the growing trust between the two countries. Obama noted he and his wife Michelle were yet to see the Taj Mahal. Last year, Obama had cancelled a planned trip to the Taj Mahal, cutting short his visit to India to travel to Saudi Arabia following King Abdullah’s death.
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This could be the last meeting between Modi and Obama as the leaders of their countries as the President’s second term in office ends in January.
