INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took a veiled dig at Pakistan during the virtual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
summit, saying that the bloc should call out countries supporting cross-border terrorism as part of state policy
With Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin listening, PM Modi said there is a
need for decisive action to deal with terrorism and terror financing.Terrorism poses a threat to regional and global peace, PM Modi said as
he called for expanding mutual cooperation to deal with the menace by the grouping.Live updates: SCO summit"We have to fight together
against terrorism that may be in any form and any manifestation," he said, asserting that there must not be any double standards in fighting
terrorism.Though he did not direcly name Pakistan, it was clear that the Prime Minister was referring to the neighbouring country.India has
regularly lashed out at Pakistan for providing safe haven to terror groups and promoting cross border terrorism.During his address, PM Modi
also warned of global challenges to food, fuel and fertilizer supplies
On the situation in Afghanistan, he said India's concerns and expectations regarding that country are similar to those of most SCO
countries.The virtual summit under India's presidency was attended by leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran as
well.The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a security grouping founded by Russia and China to counter Western alliances from East Asia to
The group includes the four Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, all former Soviet republics in which
Russian influence runs deep
Pakistan became a member in 2017, and Iran, which is set to join on Tuesday
Belarus is also in line for membership.(With inputs from agencies)WatchSCO summit: Without naming Pak, PM Modi takes a dig at 'countries
supporting cross-border terror'
