New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday skipped talking about terrorism, Pakistan-sponsored or not, in his address to plenary session of 9th BRICS Summit being held in China's Xiamen.
PM Modi has often used the international forums to galavanise support against Pakistan-bred terrorism but he did not even touch upon the contentious issue, most likley due to China's objections towards it.
China, a close ally of Pakistan, had made it clear that talks on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism at the BRICS Summit were not encouraged. And keeping in mind the delicate relations between India and China, perhaps India chose not to stir the dragon.
However, it did not stop the Chinese President Xi Jinping from talking about terrorism in his address at BRICS Business Forum on Sunday.
Jinping talked about adopting a "holistic" approach of terrorism that includes addressing "symptoms and root causes", but avoided naming Pakistan.
Read | PM Modi, Chinese president Jinping display bonhomie on day 1
"I am convinced that as long as we take a holistic approach to fighting terrorism in all its forms, and address both its symptoms and root causes, terrorists will have no place to hide. When dialogue, consultation and negotiation are conducted to create conditions for achieving a political settlement of issues such as Syria, Libya and the Palestine-Israel conflict, the flame of war can be put out, and displaced refugees will eventually return to their homes," Jinping said.
The statement indicates China's dual strategy against terrorism, wherein on one side it extends protection to Pakistan while condemning the act at global stage.
"The intertwined threats of terrorism and lack of cybersecurity, among others, have cast a dark shadow over the world. The BRICS countries are committed to upholding global peace and contributing to the international security order. BRICS should foster the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and take a constructive part in the process of resolving geo-political hotspot issues and make our due contributions.
"The BRICS countries should shoulder our responsibilities to uphold global peace and stability. Peace and development underpin and reinforce each other. The people around the world want peace and cooperation, not conflict or confrontation. Thanks to the joint efforts of all countries, the global peace has reigned for more than half a century. However, incessant conflicts in some parts of the world and hotspot issues are posing challenges to world peace," he added.
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Meanwhile, BRICS nations on Monday signed a joined declaration deploring terrorism in all its forms:
We deplore all terrorist attacks worldwide, including attacks in BRICScountries, and condemn terrorism in all its forms & manifestations wherever committed &by whomsoever & stress that there can be no justification. We express concern on the security situation in the region and violence caused by the Taliban, ISIL/DAISH, Al-Qaida & its affiliates including the Haqqani network, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, TTP & Hizb ut-Tahrir: BRICS Leaders Xiamen Declaration
