Training his guns on Pakistan yet again, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called for isolating the country, which he said, was seeking advantage in exporting terrorism.
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The East Asia Summit later in the day will be attended by leaders of the 10 Asean nations and those of India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the U.S. and Russian Federation.
His comments came amid reports that Modi might keep away from the Saarc Summit in view of the rising tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly over Jammu and Kashmir.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday proposed a joint task force on connectivity to work on extension of India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, while also proposing to enhance the ASEAN-India Fund with an additional grant of U.S. $ 50 million.
Rising export of terror, growing radicalisation through ideology of hatred and spread of extreme violence defines landscape of common security threats to our societies, he said. “Isolate and sanction supporters of terrorism”.
Statements made at the summits will likely not have any immediate impact, but could be significant as a roadmap for India’s relations with the South East Asian countries.
Among the world leaders present for his speech were US President Barack Obama and Chinese premier Li Keqiang.
This is the third time that Modi is attending these two Summits.
Both leaders reviewed the immediate priorities in the strategic partnership.
The meeting with Turkish President Recip Tayyip Erdogan, scheduled at the last minute, also allowed India to push for the country’s support for its entry to the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG).
Reddy further said that the summit will provide valuable partners to India who can bring technology, resources and who can support Indian industries, adding that the areas in which further cooperation between India & ASEAN countries are required are Agriculture, Climate Change, Non-traditional security areas, and cyber crimes and strengthening connectivity.
India accuses Pakistan of encouraging Kashmiri youth to take up arms against authorities in the Indian-administered portion of Kashmir, even as Pakistan itself has been plagued by terrorism.
“In the afternoon, the President will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India”, the White House said.
He said Asean was central to India’s Act East Policy while describing the ties with southeast Asia as a “source of harmony”.
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Obama in his intervention during the G20 summit praised Modi for the recent tax reform as an example of “bold policy” in an otherwise “difficult global economic scenario”.
