No Modi-Sharif meeting in UAE as India maintains tough stance on terror
A meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart, Shehbaz Sharif, is unlikely during the World Government Summit in the UAE next month, with New Delhi emphasising that Islamabad must address the issue of terrorism before bilateral progress can be made.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during a press briefing on Friday, made it clear that Pakistan must take concrete steps to eliminate terrorism thriving on its soil if it wishes to move forward in areas such as trade and commerce.
Sharif is scheduled to visit the UAE next month, with media reporting that he will be the guest of honour at the summit hosted by the UAE. Pakistan has formally accepted the invitation. Meanwhile, India is yet to officially announce Modi’s participation, though sources suggest it is likely, given the strong ties between India and the UAE.
Last year, Modi was the guest of honour at the summit, where he, along with several world leaders, addressed global challenges, including terrorism. Speaking at the 2024 summit, Modi underscored the threats terrorism poses to humanity and highlighted India’s vision for global cooperation.
“As we advance national progress, how do we contribute more to global good? How do we enrich universal values while drawing wisdom from our culture and traditions? How do we harness the benefits of digital technology while safeguarding society from its negative impacts? How do we work together against terrorism while striving for global peace?” he had said at the summit in 2024.
