June 23, 2023
3 mins read

Biden, Modi flags Pakistan-sponsored terrorism during bilateral talks

Biden and PM Modi reiterated the call for concerted action against all UN-listed terrorist groups including Al-Qaida, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar e-Tayyiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and Hizb-ul-Mujhahideen…reports Asian Lite News

Cross-border terrorism and challenges faced by both India and the US in the Indo-Pacific region and what the two countries need to do to mitigate these challenges through cooperation figured prominently in the discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden, according to Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra.

Briefing reporters here on Thursday (local time) the ongoing PM Modi US visit, which he described as “pathbreaking,” the Foreign Secretary said that PM Modi highlighted that the problem of “terrorism remains a pressing challenge for the global community.”
He also stated that the two leaders not only discussed several aspects of similar global threats but also talked about redressal of such problems.

Responding to an ANI question about whether a discussion or request was made by India on the extradition of Pakistan terrorist Tahawwur Rana, Kwatra said, “PM Modi said that even after two decades of 9/11 and one decade of 26/11, the problem of terrorism remains a pressing challenge for the global community.”

“Clearly, what he was highlighting was the need for the international community to recognise that the people who sponsor terrorism, support terrorism, they continue to pose a serious challenge to the safety and security of our societies and have to be very sternly and firmly dealt with,” the Foreign Secretary added.

“When the PM and President Biden held their discussions, all aspects of such global challenges were discussed between the two and how India and US could cooperate to mitigate, address and try and deal with this challenge as comprehensively as possible that was also discussed between the two leaders and going forward it would be our effort to see how some of those discussions can translate into concrete cooperative decision between India and the US,” Kwatra said.

“PM and President Biden in their discussions focused on the nature of challenges that both countries face in the Indo-Pacific region, including strategic challenges, and what India and the US need to do to mitigate those challenges through cooperation, Kwatra said.

In the US-India joint statement, issued on Thursday (Local time), the two countries strongly condemned cross-border terrorism, and the use of terrorist proxies and called on Pakistan to take immediate action to ensure that no territory under its control is used for launching terrorist attacks.

Biden and PM Modi reiterated the call for concerted action against all UN-listed terrorist groups including Al-Qaida, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar e-Tayyiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and Hizb-ul-Mujhahideen.

Both countries stood together to counter global terrorism and unequivocally condemn terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations.

They called for the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks to be brought to justice, read the statement.

Earlier, PM Modi had highlighted the need to fight terrorism and extremism that constitutes a real threat to democracy, the rule of law and the enjoyment of human rights.

Addressing a joint press conference on Thusday (local time) PM Modi said, “India and America are walking shoulder to shoulder in the fight against terrorism and extremism. We agree that concerted action is necessary to end cross-border terrorism.”

Notably, his comments come days after China blocked proposals at the United Nations to designate Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyiba’s Sajid Mir as a “global terrorist.”

Even 15 years after the Mumbai terrorist attacks, its masterminds have not yet been brought to justice.

Both leaders also raised concern over the increasing global use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones and information and communication technologies for terrorist purposes and reaffirmed the importance of working together to combat such misuse, added the joint statement.

They welcomed the cooperation between the two governments on counterterrorism designations and homeland security cooperation, including intelligence sharing and law enforcement cooperation.

Both leaders called upon the Financial Action Task Force to undertake further work identifying how to improve global implementation of its standards to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism, added the statement. (ANI)

ALSO READ: IMF bailout: Pakistan pins hopes on US

Previous Story

Google to launch  virtual “Startup School” 2023 soon

Next Story

Heartburn for China as India Cements Defence Ties with the US

Latest from -Top News

Harvard sues Trump over foreign students ban

Harvard University has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration after being barred from enrolling international students, marking its second legal challenge in a month against what it describes as politically

Pakistan may face stricter IMF terms

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will undertake its next funding review for Pakistan in the second half of 2025, with 11 new conditions now attached to the continuation of its Extended Fund

Indian diaspora in Japan backs Operation Sindoor

Members of the Indian diaspora in Japan have strongly endorsed Operation Sindoor, India’s targeted military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and

WHO adopts Global Pandemic Agreement

The agreement seeks to boost international coordination and ensure equitable access to life-saving tools during future pandemics, while reaffirming respect for national sovereignty in public health decisions In a move aimed at
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Modi, Vance Meet in Paris Ahead of US Trip

The meeting took place on the sidelines of an AI

US, India to set up Gandhi-King Development Foundation by October

The statement of intent was signed during the visit by