G-20 Summit Speakers' meet: PM Narendra Modi highlights global terrorism challenge
New Delhi, October 13: During his address at the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit in the Indian capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the need for parliaments worldwide to collaborate in the global fight against terrorism. He acknowledged that India has grappled with cross-border terrorism for decades, recalling an attack on the Indian Parliament nearly two decades ago during a session.
The reference to cross-border terrorism was particularly poignant in light of the Israel-Hamas conflict, a crisis that has resulted in substantial loss of life on both sides.
PM Modi emphasised that the world is gradually realising the immense challenge that global terrorism poses to humanity as a whole. He stressed, "The world is also realising how big a challenge terrorism is for the globe and that it is against humanity. Parliaments in the world and their representatives have to think on how to work together in this fight against terrorism."
PM Modi lamented the lack of consensus on the definition of terrorism, particularly in the context of the United Nations International Convention on Combating Terrorism, which is still awaiting consensus. He pointed out that those who commit acts against humanity exploit this lack of agreement.
At P20, PM Modi flags lack of "consensus among countries on language and definition of terrorism"
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Additionally, he underlined the importance of peace and unity on a global scale, emphasising that a world rife with conflicts and confrontations ultimately benefits no one. A divided world, he argued, cannot effectively address global challenges.
The Prime Minister called for a time of peace, brotherhood, and collective progress, emphasising the need for development and the welfare of all. This message is particularly pertinent in the current global context, marked by numerous conflicts and humanitarian crises.
In a related context, Inter-Parliamentary Union President Duarte Pacheco, speaking at the inaugural session of the ninth P20 Summit, stressed the importance of maintaining peace across all continents, including in regions like the Middle East. He urged for global efforts in this direction.
The reference to the Indian Parliament attack in 2001, when terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad targeted the Parliament, served as a stark reminder of the consequences of terrorism. Security personnel and innocent civilians lost their lives during this attack, which was successfully thwarted by security forces.
The article also noted the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, highlighting the tragic loss of life, including civilians, women, and children. It was mentioned that India described the assault by Hamas on Israel as a "terrorist attack" and reiterated its support for direct negotiations to establish a sovereign state of Palestine alongside Israel.
Also Read: Israel-Gaza war: Hamas asserts Israeli airstrikes result in deaths of 13 Gaza hostages
- With inputs from agencies
