Modi Calls Pakistan The ¡®Mothership Of Terrorism¡¯ At BRICS Summit

The " mother-ship of terrorism". That's the latest epithet that Prime Minister Narendra Modi bestowed on Pakistan at a meeting of the head of state of the five BRICS countries at the ongoing summit in Goa . This was part of his continuing anti-terrorism push at international platforms.

AP

PM Modi's characterization of Pakistan - done as usual without naming the country - as the mother-ship came during the Leaders' Restricted Meeting, the first formal engagement of the 8th BRICS Summit that is underway in Goa.

"The growing arc of terrorism today threatens the Middle East, West Asia, Europe and South Asia. Its violent footprints put at risk the security of our citizens and undercuts our efforts aimed at economic growth," said PM Modi, sitting at a circular table with the presidents of Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa.

"In our own region, terrorism poses a grave threat to peace, security and development. Tragically, the mother-ship of terrorism is a country in India's neighbourhood. Terror modules around the world are linked to this mother-ship," he summed up.

AFP

He explained to the leaders present that the problem with the neighbour was much more than just a question of funding and supporting terrorist groups on its soil. "This country shelters not just terrorists. It nurtures a mindset - a mindset that tat loudly proclaims that terrorism is justified for political gains," said PM Modi.

"It is mindset that we strongly condemn, and against which we as BRICS need to stand and act together. BRICS must speak in one voice against this threat," he added, in what could be read as an oblique reference to China's opposition to India's bid to get Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar recognized as a 'globally designated terrorist'.

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AFP

"We are united in our belief that terrorism its supporters have to be punished, not rewarded," he declared in conclusion.

PM Modi urged the BRICS members to work towards the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). He also touched upon the increasingly non-conventional nature of security challenges, from threats on cyberspace and piracy on high seas to human trafficking.

AFP

Modi and his government have taken the opportunity afforded to him at every multi-national platform since the Uri terror attack to deliver stingers aimed at Pakistan, by terming the western neighbourhood the 'global epicentre' of terrorism, without uttering Pakistan's name. These stingers have come at summits of the G20 in China, the ASEAN Summit in Laos, the United Nations General Assembly in New York City and the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.