Zero-tolerance approach can defeat terrorism says Modi

NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that over the decades terrorism in different forms tried to hurt India but the country fought terrorism bravely while delivering the inaugural address at the third ‘No Money for Terror’ (NMFT) Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing in the national capital. “It is significant that this conference is happening in India.

Our country faced the horrors of terror long before the world took serious note of it. Over the decades, terrorism in different forms tried to hurt India but we’ve fought terrorism bravely,” the PM said in his opening remarks at the ‘No Money for Terror’ Conference here.
The PM called for uprooting terrorism, saying ”it needs a larger, proactive, systemic response. If we want our citizens to be safe, we cannot wait until terror comes to our homes. We must pursue terrorists, break their support networks and hit their finances.” The PM earlier inaugurated the conference in conveying India`s determination in its fight against terrorism and its support systems for achieving success against it.
PM Modi said, ”All terrorist attacks deserve equal outrage and action” while speaking at the ministerial meeting on counter-terrorism financing. The PM went on to say that “It is well known that terrorist outfits get money through several sources – one is state support. Certain countries support terrorism as part of their foreign policy. They offer political, ideological & financial support to them…”
He said that ”anyone who supports radicalisation should have no place in any country” as he called for jointly addressing ”the problem of radicalisation and extremism.” The Prime Minister also underlined the need to strike at the “root of terror financing”.”Nobody likes an area that is constantly under threat. And due to this, the livelihood of people is taken away. It is all the more important that we strike at the root of terror financing,” PM Modi said.
Modi delivered the inaugural address at the third ‘No Money for Terror’ (NMFT) Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing. He made the remarks before delegates from over 70 countries and international organisations at the third ‘No Money for Terror Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing’ hosted by the Ministry of Home Affairs here.
Certain countries support terrorism as part of their foreign policy and they offer political, ideological and financial support, Modi said, adding, “There can be no ifs and buts entertained in such matters. The world needs to unite against all kinds of overt and covert backing of terror.” The prime minister said it is well known that terrorist organisations get money through several sources and one of them is state support.
New Delhi has for long been accusing Pakistan of providing all-round support to terrorist organisations in carrying out attacks in India, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. The PM said in present times, ideally there should be no need for anyone to remind the world of the dangers of terrorism.
China has on several occasions foiled international efforts to take action by the United Nations against terrorists, mostly against those who were responsible for terror attacks in India. Modi said there is no place for an ambiguous approach while dealing with a global threat. “It is an attack on humanity, freedom and civilisation. It knows no boundaries. Only a uniform, unified and zero-tolerance approach can defeat terrorism,” he said.
It is significant that this conference is happening in India as the country faced the horrors of terror long before the world took serious note of it, the prime minister said. “Over the decades, terrorism in different names and forms tried to hurt India. We lost thousands of precious lives, but we have fought terrorism bravely.
Modi said uprooting terrorism needs a larger proactive response and to make citizens safe no one can wait until terror comes to individual homes. “We must pursue terrorists, break their support networks and hit their finances.” The prime minister said organised crime should not be seen in isolation as it is one of the sources of terror funding. These gangs often have deep links with terrorist outfits and the money made in gun-running, drugs and smuggling is pumped into terrorism, he said.
All terrorist attacks deserve equal outrage and action. Further, sometimes, there are indirect arguments made in support of terrorism to block action against terrorists. There is no place for an ambiguous approach while dealing with a global threat. It is an attack on humanity, freedom and civilization,” PM said in his speech.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said terrorism is the most serious threat to global peace and security but financing of terror is “more dangerous”. He said darknet is being used by terrorists to spread radical content and conceal their identities. “Additionally, there is an increase in the use of virtual assets like crypto currency. We need to understand the patterns of these dark net activities and find their solutions,” Shah said.
(Bureau Report with Agency Inputs).