While John Kerry was visiting India this month, the obvious issues with neighbouring Pakistan and cross-border terrorism were brought up, but the US isn’t the only country that India’s trying to get support from on Pakistan anymore.
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It seems apparent that Modi is not likely to pass up an opportunity to target Pakistan at worldwide forums with India deciding to adopt a muscular response to Islamabad’s bid to internationalise violent protests in Kashmir.
This could well be the last bilateral meeting between PM Modi and Barack Obama before the latter demits office in January next year.
“This is the third time I am attending these Summits”, Mr. Modi said in a post on his Facebook page yesterday, on the eve of his departure on the two-day trip.
Earlier, while addressing the 14th ASEAN-India Summit here, Modi expressed deep concern at the rising “export of terror”, in an apparent reference to Pakistan, saying it is a common security threat to the region.
“The time has come for us to stop this Global Exporter of Terror”.
“Asean is a key partner for our Act East Policy, which is vital for the economic development of our Northeastern region”, Modi said in a pre-departure statement posted on his Facebook page.
A recent meeting of the India-UK joint group on counter terrorism was “useful”, Modi said as he called for greater collaboration in cyber security and intelligence sharing and information gathering.
The PM’s comments come just days after he told the G20 summit in China that Pakistan is “a single nation spreading agents of terror”.
When asked if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will raise the issue of Kalbhushan Yadav at the upcoming UN General Assembly session, the spokesman said the issue of Indian involvement would definitely be highlighted.
He said enhancing connectivity was central to India’s partnership with ASEAN. The two leaders reported to have reviewed immediate priorities in the strategic partnership and cooperation in several areas including climate change, nuclear energy, solar energy and innovation. This was followed by a surprise visit by Modi to Pakistan on December 25 previous year, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in more than a decade.
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Recognising terrorism as a significant threat to peace and stability in the region, India and the 10-member ASEAN today made a strong commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
