Terror shared worry: Modi, Erdogan

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, May 1

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today did some tough talk on terrorism and was supported by visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on a day when Pakistan mutilated the bodies of two Indian soldiers. 

Though the PM did not mention Pakistan by name in his remarks to the media after holding talks with the Turkish President, his reference to “cross-border” terrorism made it clear where he was pointing the finger.

The PM said “the constantly evolving threat from terrorism is our shared worry”, and added that he and President Erdogan held an “extensive” conversation on the topic and that they both agreed that “no intent or goal no reason or rationale can validate terrorism”.

“The nations of the world, therefore, need to work as one to disrupt the terrorist networks and their financing and put a stop to cross-border movement of terrorists. They also need to stand and act against those that conceive and create, support and sustain, shelter and spread these instruments and ideologies of violence,” he said.

The Turkish President said his country would stand by the side of India in full solidarity to fighting the menace of terrorism.

“Terrorist organisations want to launch their propaganda over suffering of people, willing to create future for themselves out of victims’ pain,” Erdogan said.

While Turkey expressed support for India’s permanent seat in a reformed United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the support for India’s bid to enter the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was not that obvious. Turkey, like China, has taken the position that states that have not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty can be admitted in the NSG only after the nuclear group comes out with guidelines regarding the same. But the catch here is that in that case, both India and Pakistan would fit the bill.