Export of Terror Common Threat Says Modi with Reference to Pakistan

Vientiane (Laos): In an obvious reference to Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said “export of terror” is a common threat to the region.

“Export of terror, growing radicalisation and spread of extreme violence are common security threats to our societies,” Modi said while addressing the 14th India-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit here. He said Asean was central to India’s Act East Policy while describing the ties with southeast Asia as a “source of harmony”. The India-Asean Summit will be followed by the 11th East Asia Summit on Thursday. Earlier in the day, Modi held a bilateral meeting with host Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith. Modi also met South Korean President Park Geun-hye, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who is the State Counsellor and Foreign Minister of Myanmar, and US President Barack Obama later in the day.

Laos Supports India’s Permanent Seat in UNSC: Ahead of the 14th India-Asean Summit and the 11th East Asia Summit here on Thursday, Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said that his country supports a permanent seat for India in the UN Security Council (UNSC).

“Laos PM said his country supported India as a permanent member of a reformed and expanded UNSC,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup informed the media after a bilateral meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sisoulith on Thursday morning. Stating that the two leaders discussed regional developments, Swarup said that, “both countries shared the same perspective” on the South China Sea issue. An international arbitration tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in July ruled in favour of the Philippines in its dispute with China over the South China Sea. While the Philippines welcomed the ruling, China reacted angrily calling it “null and void”.

According to Swarup, during the meeting, Sisoulith appreciated India’s consistent support for Laos since the country’s independence “particularly in areas of human resources development, agriculture, irrigation and power”. Modi said that he was especially happy to be in Vientiane at a time when India and Laos were celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. “Both Prime Ministers agreed to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in a befitting manner,” Swarup stated.

The India-Asean Summit on Thursday will be attended by leaders of 10 southeast Asian nations - Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand. The East Asia Summit later in the day will be attended by leaders of the 10 Asean nations and those of India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Russia.

IANS