PM Modi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel issue a joint statement in Berlin
Prime Minster Narendra Modi today said the world must aim to isolate countries that promote terrorism and harbour terrorists.
The PM was answering a question during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin at the end of his two-day visit to Germany. (Full text of PM Modi's joint statement)
He called for collective efforts to counter terrorism. "Terrorism is a big danger for humanity... Pressure should be created on governments who give shelter to terrorists... we can make this effort and isolate terrorists and people supporting terrorists...," he said in what is seen as a reference to Pakistan, where Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi, a top commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the man seen as the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks was released from prison on Saturday.
"Earlier when we used to talk about terrorism, people used to say it is a law and order problem. Now they have realised how big a threat it is," the PM said.
In his speech he said, "The spread of terrorism is growing and its character is changing. The threat is coming close to us across every region of the world. We need a comprehensive global strategy to deal with this global challenge, in which India and Germany can work together."
He also asked the United Nations to pass a resolution defining terrorism.
Lakhvi and six others have been charged with planning and executing the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, but the case has made virtually no progress in six years, despite repeated protests from India. 166 people were killed in the terror strike.
Lakhvi was arrested in 2009 but a Pakistan court recently ruled that his detention was illegal. On Monday, the Islamabad High Court ordered an anti-terror court to close Lakhvi's trial in two months.
Hafiz Saeed, another man on India's list of most wanted for his role in planning the Mumbai attacks, roams free in Pakistan and often addresses public rallies. Saeed has a US bounty of 10 million dollars on him and is designated by that country as a terrorist leader, but Pakistan has said that there is no case against him and that he is free to roam the country as a Pakistani national.