World Economic Forum: Modi urges world to unite against ‘terrorism’

Indian PM mentions climate change, protectionism as major challenges

DAVOS: Despite committing serious human rights violations in occupied Kashmir and sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged the world leaders to unite against the menace of terrorism.

While addressing the opening plenary of the 48 Annual Meeting of the WEF – a gathering of the global elites at Swiss ski resort, the Indian premier tried to project his country’s soft image and sought greater role.

He mentioned climate change, terrorism and protectionism as three major challenges that the world was facing.



“Terrorism is dangerous but equally dangerous are the good and bad terrorists,” said Modi in his about one-hour long address.

Modi said that terrorism and climate change could fracture many good things that human race has achieved.

According to India’s own estimates, over 70% so-called terrorist incidents in India are caused by various nationalistic movements, said Ikram Sehgal –a defense analyst who is also in the Swiss city to project soft image of Pakistan.

“More than 90% attacks in occupied Kashmir are on hard targets and freedom fighters cannot be called terrorists,” Sehgal said, adding, “Terrorist is a terrorist whether good or bad.”

It was quite strange that India was talking about terrorism when it was sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan, said Ikram Sehgal.

He said that the case of convicted Kulbhushan Jadhav was the living example of India’s involvement in terrorism activities in Pakistan.
Modi claimed that India believes in ‘non-violence’ and has always opposed terrorism.

“I say with full conviction that terrorism is bad in all its forms and facets. It is bad irrespective of its territory of origin or target of operation,” said the Indian prime minister.

“We all must unite in the fight against terrorism,” said the Indian premier.

He said that India stood firmly with all such forces that are against terrorism. He said the world should take measures to make sure that such groups do not get money, arms and ammunition.

“It cannot be a good business to do business with such elements. We all know that, without peace, progress and prosperity is not possible.”
“The second global challenge is the problem of climate change,” said the Indian prime minister.

He said that the development process should be entirely in line with our cultural ethos towards environmental safeguards.

He also said that there was a need to particularly address the issues facing the younger generation.

“The rapid rise and spread of radicalism among the younger generation in different societies is endangering the security and stability of many regions.



“People sitting here can help a lot in this direction. You can create and facilitate gainful employment and engagement for the youth, he added. We must demonstrate by action that new technology will not take away jobs. Rather, it will create new jobs in newer areas and manners,” the Indian prime minister said.

He also said that the biggest reasons for fracture at the international level are control of territories: both direct and indirect; and control of transactions: including cross-border trade and movement of people.
The president of Switzerland, Alaint Brest, underlined the need to strike a balance between politics and the economy to bring peace and shared prosperity in the world.

The Swiss president said that if widespread resentment continued in the world, the poorest will be the first victim. He said that there was a need to address the reasons resulting to conflicts in the world.

It is seemingly the fractured world, said Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the WEF. He said the world has to respond to the voices of the fractional groups.