Pakistan's ceaseless effort to internationalize the Kashmir issue earned a sharp rebuke from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who told the UN general assembly that it was a pointless exercise when there were so many more pressing issues facing the region and the world.
"Raising it at the UN won't resolve bilateral issues," Modi suggested in caustic remarks that came a day after Pakistan's prime minister Nawaz Sharif told the general assembly that his country could not draw a veil on Kashmir.
Asserting that India's future is tied to its neighborhood, he told the general assembly of his government's positive outreach to its neighbors from day one, and said its approach towards Pakistan was in the same vein.
"We want to promote friendship with Pakistan too, but we can only talk without the shadow of terrorism over us," Modi said in a speech delivered in Hindi, adding that it is incumbent on Pakistan to create a conducive atmosphere for talks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the UN general assembly. (Reuters photo)
He also referred to the recent floods in Kashmir and said his government had not focused only on Jammu & Kashmir but had also offered to help flood victims in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Modi did not directly accuse Pakistan of promoting terror, but the inference was clear in his wider remarks that reflected India's growing concern over terrorism worldwide. He said terrorism is surfacing in different forms and different ways across the world and no country is immune from it. "Even today there were countries that were giving shelter to terrorist organizations and differentiating between good terrorists and bad terrorists which raised questions about their intentions and motives," he said.
"The world should shun such countries and conclude adopting a comprehensive convention on international terrorism", Modi said.Sharif left New York last night after his UN speech to handle domestic crises, without meeting Modi on the general assembly margins for a bilateral pow-wow that has been the norm for Indian and Pakistani leaders in the past. In another thinly disguised rebuke to Pakistan over what the Indian side says is its ceaseless confrontational posture, Modi is meeting the leaders of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
The Prime Minister's caustic remarks on Pakistan came as a surprise after Indian officials indicated last night that he would make a "forward looking" speech and New Delhi's right to reply to the Kashmir issue raised by Nawaz Sharif will be handled at the delegation level.
In broader remarks before the UNGA, Modi also rejected unilateralism and said no one country could handle the world's problem. He took a dim view of various "G group of nation" platforms.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the UN general assembly. (AP photo)
He also referred briefly to contentious globalization issues that has put India and US at odds and said trade agreements should accommodate each others concerns, in a clear indication that he and President Obama have significant gaps to bridge on issues such as trade and climate change when they meet in Washington, DC on Monday.
PTI adds:
Modi's address covered a number of subjects such as terrorism, including its resurgence in West Asia, reforms of the United Nations, including the security council, and the need for a more inclusive global development.
Talking about India's neighbourhood, the Prime Minister said that India desired a peaceful and stable environment for its development. "A nation's destiny is linked to its neighbourhood. That is why my government has placed the highest priority on advancing friendship and cooperation with her neighbours," he said."India is part of the developing world, but we are prepared to share our modest resources with those countries that need this assistance as much as we do," he said.
Describing the present as "a time of great flux and change", Modi said the world was witnessing tensions and turmoil on a scale rarely seen in recent history. Although there were no major wars "there is absence of real peace and uncertainty about the future".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the UN general assembly. (AFP photo)
In an apparent reference to the ongoing conflict in Iraq and Syria, where a US-led coalition is attacking the Islamic State (IS) militants, he said that India welcomed efforts to combat terrorism's resurgence in West Asia which was affecting countries near and far.
He pointedly emphasized, "... this effort should involve the support of all countries in the region."
The effort should involve the support of all countries in the region, he said, adding UN should ensure that there will be peace, stability and order in the outer space and cyber space.
"We should work together to ensure that all countries observe international rules and norms," he said.
He referred to the Asia-Pacific region and said that it was "still concerned about maritime security that is fundamental to its future."
Europe faces risk of new division, he stressed, adding that in West Asia, extremism and fault lines are growing.
"Our own region continues to face the destabilising threat of terrorism. Africa faces the twin threat of rising terrorism and a health crisis," he said.
Modi also asked the world leaders to adopt an International Yoga Day, saying that by changing lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change.
"Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day,"
Noting that Yoga is "an invaluable gift of our ancient tradition", he said: "It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature."
Yoga is the 5,000-year-old Indian physical, mental and spiritual practice that aim to transform body and mind.
"Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well being," he said.
"By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change," he added.
Calling for reform of the United Nations, including the security council, whose membership India is aspiring for, Modi said the world body should be more democratic and participative.
"Institutions that reflect the imperatives of the 20th century won't be effective in the 21st. It would face the risk of irrelevance and we will face the risk of continuing turbulence with no one capable of addressing it," he said.
"Raising it at the UN won't resolve bilateral issues," Modi suggested in caustic remarks that came a day after Pakistan's prime minister Nawaz Sharif told the general assembly that his country could not draw a veil on Kashmir.
Asserting that India's future is tied to its neighborhood, he told the general assembly of his government's positive outreach to its neighbors from day one, and said its approach towards Pakistan was in the same vein.
"We want to promote friendship with Pakistan too, but we can only talk without the shadow of terrorism over us," Modi said in a speech delivered in Hindi, adding that it is incumbent on Pakistan to create a conducive atmosphere for talks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the UN general assembly. (Reuters photo)
He also referred to the recent floods in Kashmir and said his government had not focused only on Jammu & Kashmir but had also offered to help flood victims in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Modi did not directly accuse Pakistan of promoting terror, but the inference was clear in his wider remarks that reflected India's growing concern over terrorism worldwide. He said terrorism is surfacing in different forms and different ways across the world and no country is immune from it. "Even today there were countries that were giving shelter to terrorist organizations and differentiating between good terrorists and bad terrorists which raised questions about their intentions and motives," he said.
"The world should shun such countries and conclude adopting a comprehensive convention on international terrorism", Modi said.Sharif left New York last night after his UN speech to handle domestic crises, without meeting Modi on the general assembly margins for a bilateral pow-wow that has been the norm for Indian and Pakistani leaders in the past. In another thinly disguised rebuke to Pakistan over what the Indian side says is its ceaseless confrontational posture, Modi is meeting the leaders of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
The Prime Minister's caustic remarks on Pakistan came as a surprise after Indian officials indicated last night that he would make a "forward looking" speech and New Delhi's right to reply to the Kashmir issue raised by Nawaz Sharif will be handled at the delegation level.
In broader remarks before the UNGA, Modi also rejected unilateralism and said no one country could handle the world's problem. He took a dim view of various "G group of nation" platforms.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the UN general assembly. (AP photo)
He also referred briefly to contentious globalization issues that has put India and US at odds and said trade agreements should accommodate each others concerns, in a clear indication that he and President Obama have significant gaps to bridge on issues such as trade and climate change when they meet in Washington, DC on Monday.
PTI adds:
Modi's address covered a number of subjects such as terrorism, including its resurgence in West Asia, reforms of the United Nations, including the security council, and the need for a more inclusive global development.
Talking about India's neighbourhood, the Prime Minister said that India desired a peaceful and stable environment for its development. "A nation's destiny is linked to its neighbourhood. That is why my government has placed the highest priority on advancing friendship and cooperation with her neighbours," he said."India is part of the developing world, but we are prepared to share our modest resources with those countries that need this assistance as much as we do," he said.
Describing the present as "a time of great flux and change", Modi said the world was witnessing tensions and turmoil on a scale rarely seen in recent history. Although there were no major wars "there is absence of real peace and uncertainty about the future".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the UN general assembly. (AFP photo)
In an apparent reference to the ongoing conflict in Iraq and Syria, where a US-led coalition is attacking the Islamic State (IS) militants, he said that India welcomed efforts to combat terrorism's resurgence in West Asia which was affecting countries near and far.
He pointedly emphasized, "... this effort should involve the support of all countries in the region."
The effort should involve the support of all countries in the region, he said, adding UN should ensure that there will be peace, stability and order in the outer space and cyber space.
"We should work together to ensure that all countries observe international rules and norms," he said.
He referred to the Asia-Pacific region and said that it was "still concerned about maritime security that is fundamental to its future."
Europe faces risk of new division, he stressed, adding that in West Asia, extremism and fault lines are growing.
"Our own region continues to face the destabilising threat of terrorism. Africa faces the twin threat of rising terrorism and a health crisis," he said.
Modi also asked the world leaders to adopt an International Yoga Day, saying that by changing lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change.
"Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day,"
Noting that Yoga is "an invaluable gift of our ancient tradition", he said: "It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature."
Yoga is the 5,000-year-old Indian physical, mental and spiritual practice that aim to transform body and mind.
"Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well being," he said.
"By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change," he added.
Calling for reform of the United Nations, including the security council, whose membership India is aspiring for, Modi said the world body should be more democratic and participative.
"Institutions that reflect the imperatives of the 20th century won't be effective in the 21st. It would face the risk of irrelevance and we will face the risk of continuing turbulence with no one capable of addressing it," he said.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon