India, ASEAN must come together to fight global terror: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday sought the backing of ASEAN nations for the adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism mooted by India as part of measures to step up the fight against global terror.

Updated on: Nov 21, 2015, 16:04:51 IST

Hindustan Times | By Rezaul H Laskar, Kuala Lumpur

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday sought the backing of ASEAN nations for the adoption of a global convention on terrorism mooted by India as part of measures to step up the fight against global terror.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, join his hands with ASEAN leaders, from left, Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and Laos' Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong for a group photo during the 13th India-ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Nov 21, 2015. (AP)

Addressing the 13th ASEAN-India Summit in the Malaysian capital, Modi described terrorism as a “major global challenge that affects us all here”.

ASEAN members and India should explore ways to enhance cooperation at the regional and international level, including support for India’s Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, he said.

“We meet at a time of multiple global challenges: economic uncertainties, political turmoil and security threats,” he said.

Modi also called for the peaceful resolution of territorial disputes in the South China Sea, an issue over which ASEAN nations have expressed serious concern during their meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

In a reference to the maritime and territorial disputes in the South China Sea, Modi said India shares with ASEAN a “commitment to freedom of navigation, over flight and unimpeded commerce” in line with principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“Territorial disputes must be settled through peaceful means,” the PM said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi join hands with other leaders during a group photo at the 13th ASEAN-India Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Nov 21, 2015. (PTI)

“India hopes that all parties to the disputes in the South China Sea will abide by the guidelines on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and redouble efforts for early adoption of a Code of Conduct on the basis of consensus,” he added.

ASEAN ministers had expressed serious concerns over the maritime and territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Malaysia’s foreign minister Anifah Aman said the ministers had asserted the importance of peace, security, stability and freedom of navigation on the sea and over it.

“In this regard, the ministers remain seriously concerned about the ongoing developments and urge all parties to exercise self-restraint,” he said.

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Modi further said the future prosperity of ASEAN and India rests on the “foundation of security and stability in our region and the oceans, outer space and cyber world”.

The first ASEAN-India Cyber Security Conference hosted in January could be the springboard for further cooperation in this area, he added.

ASEAN and India should also evolve plans of cooperation in maritime security, counter-piracy and humanitarian and disaster relief.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rezaul H Laskar
Rezaul Hasan Laskar is Foreign Editor with the Hindustan Times, which he joined in 2015. He began as a journalist in his hometown of Shillong in northeast India and has worked in newspapers and wire services over the years. He moved to New Delhi in 1997 and initially focused on defence, national security, Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast, while also working of foreign policy and international relations. He has been part of the media delegation accompanying PMs on foreign visits and has reported from destinations ranging from Tibet to Ukraine. Between 2007 and 2013, he was the Press Trust of India correspondent in Pakistan, one of only two Indian journalists allowed to report from the country. He extensively covered Pakistan’s domestic politics and the life of the common people, as well as the fallout of the 2008 Mumbai attacks on India-Pakistan relations and the subsequent trial in Pakistan of the suspects involved in the attack. As part of his reportage in Pakistan, he travelled the breadth of the country, from the Swat Valley to Balochistan. Reza’s first gig in journalism was writing a weekly music column, and music – especially classic rock – remains a keen interest. He is also a movie buff and a keen photographer.Read More

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