News / India

India’s Modi blasts Pakistan for serving as ‘mother-ship of terrorism’

Sunday, 16 October 2016 1:24 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 16 October 2016 1:26 PM ]

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L), India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C), and China's President Xi Jingping prepare to leave at the concluding session of the BRICS summit at Taj Exotica hotel in Goa on October 16, 2016. (AFP photo)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stepped up his drive to isolate Pakistan by highlighting the country’s role in sponsoring terrorism.

In unprecedented and harsh remarks during a meeting on Sunday of leaders from the BRICS group of countries, which also include Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa, Modi said India’s neighbor has become the main breeder of terror activities and branded Pakistan as ‘mother-ship of terrorism.’

“Tragically, the mother-ship of terrorism is a country in India's neighborhood,” Modi said without directly naming Pakistan.

The hostile comments, was addressed to BRICS leaders, who met at a resort hotel in the western state of Goa.

“In our own region, terrorism poses a grave threat to peace, security and development,” Modi said, adding, “We were unanimous in recognizing the threat that terrorism, extremism and radicalization presents, not just to the regional and global peace, stability and prosperity, but, also to our society, our way of life and humanity as a whole."

There was no immediate answer from Pakistan to the comments which were published on the official Twitter page of the Indian Foreign Ministry. Indian media praised the comments, although observers said they were mainly aimed at domestic audience and were meant to solidify the government’s position regarding sensitive national security issues like the ongoing conflict in Kashmir.

Tensions have escalated between nuclear arch-rivals India and Pakistan since 19 Indian soldiers were killed in a September 18 attack on Uri army base in Kashmir, near the disputed frontier with Pakistan. India accused Pakistan of carrying out the attack, which was the worst such assault in 14 years. Islamabad denied any role and condemned later cross-border strikes by India which inflicted casualties.

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