Citing state actors working with nuclear traffickers and terrorists as the biggest risk to security, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said there will be no deterrence against nuclear terrorism if terrorism was not persecuted, while speaking during the National Security Summit in Washington Thursday. The statement seemed to be a veiled reference to Pakistan, which has been accused of not acting tough on terrorists.
"Brussels shows us how real and immediate the threat to nuclear security from terrorism is," Modi said, a day after his visit to the Belgian capital where he also visited the site of the terror attack at the Maelbeek metro station. Modi made the statements while attending dinner with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House, according to Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup.
"Drop the notion that terrorism is someone else's problem and that "his" terrorist is not "my" terrorist," he said.
Modi also highlighted the "three contemporary features" of terrorism — use of extreme violence as theatre, a terrorist in a city with a computer or a smart phone, and state actors working with nuclear traffickers and terrorists, which he said was the "greatest risk."
The Indian leader called on countries to abide by international obligations on nuclear security. He also hailed the U.S. president for "putting the spotlight" on nuclear security. This summit marks Obama's final nuclear summit as he nears the end of his second term in the White House.
"Interacted with world leaders at the NSS dinner at the White House. Shared my thoughts on the threat of nuclear terrorism," Modi tweeted early Friday.
Modi will hold bilateral talks with leaders of Canada, UK, Argentina and Japan Friday and then leave for Saudi Arabia before returning to the country.
