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Heart of Asia conference: Modi, Ghani lash out at Pakistan on terrorism

PakistanToday

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi being conferred on the Highest Civilian Honour of Afghanistan (Amir Amanullah Khan Award) by the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Mr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, in Herat, Afghanistan on June 04, 2016.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani joined hands to lash out at Pakistan on terrorism as the subject dominated the inauguration of the sixth Heart of Asia ministerial conference on Sunday in Amritsar.

The two leaders apparently made indirect references to Islamabad, saying silence and inaction against terrorism in the region will encourage terrorists and their facilitators.

The theme of the conference is ‘enhanced cooperation for countering security threats and promoting connectivity in the Heart of Asia region’, and India and Afghanistan are expected to seek this opportunity to blame Pakistan for terrorism, with a possible draft declaration at the conference, which will include hard reference to “cross-border terrorism”, and “sanctuaries for terror groups”.

“Silence and inaction against terrorism in Afghanistan and our region will only embolden terrorists and their masters,” ANI quoted Modi as saying as he jointly inaugurated the 6th session of the Ministerial Conference of Heart of Asia with Afghan President Dr Ashraf Ghani in Amritsar.

“We must demonstrate strong collective will to defeat terror networks that cause bloodshed and spread fear,” Modi added.
Speaking at the conference, where Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s adviser on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, was also present, Afghan president Ghani said: “We need to identify cross-border terrorism and a fund to combat terrorism. Pakistan has pledged $500 million for Afghanistan’s development, this amount can be spent to contain extremism.”
READ MORE: Heart of Asia Conference: Sartaj Aziz meets Afghan President Ghani
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his opening remarks termed terrorism “the biggest threat to Afghanistan’s peace and the region,” NDTV reported.

Modi has vowed to step up a drive to isolate Pakistan diplomatically following the Uri army base attack in September, which it blames on Pakistan ─ an allegation Islamabad denies.

Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh termed Pakistan a ‘terrorist state’ and accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack on Uri military base.

READ MORE: Modi holds informal talks with Sartaj, asks about PM Nawaz’s health

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