Dubai/Abu Dhabi: Pitching for a “decisive battle” against terrorism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged countries to choose if they are with the sponsors of terror or against them as he underlined that dialogue was the only way to resolve all issues with neighbours.
Mr Modi, without naming Pakistan, said India wants good relations with all neighbouring countries. “I keep telling all neighbouring countries that like all people who have chosen the path of violence will have to come to the dialogue table at some point, similarly dialogue is the only way to resolve issues.”
The PM, who wrapped up his two-day visit to UAE on Monday, told a gathering of around 50,000 Indians at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium that the message of a collective fight against terror which had emanated from here will be “understood” by those sponsoring terrorism, in an apparent reference to Pakistan.
“Samajhnewale samajh jayenge. Akalmand ko ishara kaafi hai (Those who need to understand will get the message. A signal is enough for them. Those involved in terrorism must be punished and this message has come out clearly from here),” he said, referring to the India-UAE joint statement, which talked of a collective fight against terror. Speaking just ahead of the NSA-level talks with Pakistan on August 23, Mr Modi said India has been a victim of terrorism for the last 40 years, with innocent people being killed, but the world had realised its impact only now.
“Terrorism does not have any boundary… Everyone will have to decide whether they are with terrorism or against it,” the PM said in his 70-minute address.
He said the “false distinction” between good terrorism and bad terrorism will not work, and action must be taken against all those involved in perpetrating violence.
“Good Taliban, bad Taliban. Good terror, bad terror… This won’t work. The time has come now for a decisive battle between those supporting terrorism and those believing in humanity,” he said.
While talking about terrorism, Mr Modi also took a swipe at the UN Security Council, saying it has not been able to define terrorism and which country should be declared as a “terrorist state”.
Earlier on Monday, elevating their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, India and the UAE were severely critical of countries sponsoring terror and asked all states to dismantle terror infrastructure, an oblique reference to Pakistan.
Denouncing and opposing terrorism in all forms and manifestations and asking all states to abandon the use of terrorism against other countries, the two sides called for bringing the perpetrators of terror to justice. References to terror in all its forms, including state-sponsored, were the highlight of a 31-point joint statement issued after talks between UAE Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Zayed AI Nahyan and Narendra Modi, the first Indian PM to visit the strategic Gulf state in 34 years.
Agreeing to boost bilateral cooperation in counter-terror operations, intelligence-sharing and capacity building, Mr Modi and the Crown Prince also decided to coordinate efforts to counter radicalisation and misuse of religion by groups and countries for inciting hatred and justifying terrorism for pursuing political aims.
The two sides held intensive discussions on strategic bilateral, regional and international issues such as trade, security, threat of terrorism and extremism, after which they decided on range of steps, including setting up a security dialogue and establishing NSA-level interactions.
Mr Modi also held talks with Dubai’s Ruler and UAE Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on a range of issues.
The two sides also decided to cooperate in interdicting illegal flows and take action against concerned individuals and organisations.
When asked if the issue of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and attaching of his assets in the UAE was discussed as part of taking action against individuals and organisations having a bearing on radicalisation, foreign secretary S. Jaishanakar did not give a direct reply. “There was a larger discussion on issues and trends obviously seen as source of instability for the countries and region. In high-level visits of this nature (deal) more with policy decisions,” he said.
When asked about immediacy in the context of counter-terrorism measures, the foreign secretary said: “The threat of terrorism is common to both countries. This includes not the non-state actors, but states sponsoring terrorism.”
Rejecting extremism and any link between religion and terrorism, the two sides condemned efforts, including by states, to use religion to justify, support and sponsor terrorism against other countries. They also deplored efforts by countries to give religious and sectarian colour to political issues and disputes, including in West and South Asia and use terrorism to pursue their aims.
India and the UAE denounced and opposed terrorism in all forms and manifestations, “wherever committed and by whomever, calling on all states to reject and abandon the use of terrorism against other countries, dismantle terrorism infrastructures where they exist, and bring perpetrators of terrorism to justice,” the statement said.
The inclusion of this formulation was projected as significant by the Indian side, which maintained it was an obvious reference to Pakistan. Mr Modi, who arrived in Abu Dhabi Sunday on a two-day visit, also held meetings with business captains to project India as an attractive investment destination.
At the end of Mr Modi’s meetings, both sides announced elevation of India-UAE ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, and as part of it they will also manufacture defence equipment in India. They decided to “strengthen cooperation in law enforcement, anti-money laundering, drug trafficking, other trans-national crimes, extradition arrangements, as well as police training and promote cooperation in cyber security, including prevention on use of the cyber world for terrorism, radicalisation and disturbing social harmony,” the statement said.
Establishing a dialogue between their national security advisers and National Security Councils, they decided that the NSAs, together with other high-level representatives, will meet every six months. The two sides will establish points of contact between their security agencies to further improve operational cooperation. India warmly welcomed the UAE’s decision to participate in International Fleet Review in India in February 2016.