G20 summit: PM Modi slams Pakistan, says one nation in South Asia spreading terror

G20 countries, including India, came down heavily on terrorism as they vowed to tackle all sources, techniques and channels of terror financing.

Hangzhou: In an apparent reference to Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that one single nation in South Asia was spreading agents of terror in the region.

"Indeed one single nation in South Asia is spreading these agents of terror in countries of our region," PM Modi said.

Speaking at the G20 Summit in China, PM Modi urged the international community to act in unity and take action against terrorism.

He further called them to isolate and sanction supporters of terrorism.

“We expect the international community to speak and act in unity, and to respond with urgency to fight this menace,” PM Modi said.

“Those who sponsor and support terrorism must be isolated and sanctioned, not rewarded.”

“India has policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism, because anything less than that is not enough, for us terrorist is a terrorist”, PM Modi asserted.

Concluding his speech, PM Modi said, India appreciates the G20 initiative on combating the financing of terrorism.

Soon after Prime Minister Modi's assertion, the G20 countries, including India, also came down heavily on terrorism as they vowed to tackle all sources, techniques and channels of terror financing.

The G20, in its communique released after the conclusion of the two-day summit, said, "We strongly condemn terrorism in all forms and manifestations, which poses serious challenges to international peace and security and endangers our ongoing efforts to strengthen the global economy and ensure sustainable growth and development."

The G20 nations reaffirmed their solidarity and resolve to fight terrorism in all its forms and wherever it occurs. They vowed to tackle all sources, techniques and channels of terrorist financing, including extortion taxation, smuggling of natural resources, bank looting, looting of cultural property, external donation, and kidnapping for ransom.

Earlier, in his meeting with President Xi, PM Modi had expressed concern over terrorism emanating from Pakistan's restive regions of Giligit-Baltistan and Pakistani Kashmir where the China Pakistan Economic Corridor is coming up.

(With PTI inputs)