Isolate those who support terrorists: Modi at US Congress

Washington: In a veiled swipe at Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lauded the U.S Congress for refusing to reward nations and organisations who 'preach and practice' terrorism for political gains. The Prime Minister's statement comes after the move by the Congress to block the $429 million subsidy for the sale of eight F-16 combat jets to Pakistan, where Islamabad would have to pay in full if it wanted to go through with the nearly $700 million deal for the F-16s. "Refusing to reward them is the first step towards holding them accountable for their actions. The fight against terrorism has to be fought at many levels. And the traditional tools of military, intelligence or diplomacy alone would not be able to win this fight," the Prime Minister said. Asserting that terrorism remains the biggest threat, as its philosophy of hate, murder and violence was spreading its shadow across the world, especially in India's neighbourhood, he added that the need of the hour is for India and U.S. to deepen their security cooperation. Further training his guns on Pakistan, Prime Minister Modi's emphasised that the basis for that cooperation would be on a policy that isolates those who harbour, support and sponsor terrorists. "A policy that does not distinguish between good and bad terrorists and that delinks religion from terrorism. Those who believe in humanity must come together and speak against this menace in one voice. Terrorism must be delegitimized," he said. Highlighting how India and the U.S. have combined their strengths in science, technology and innovation to help fight hunger, poverty, diseases and illiteracy in different parts of the world, the Prime Minister said that success of the Indo-U.S. partnership is also opening up new opportunities for security and development from Asia to Africa.

• Our relation is prime for a momentous future
• Let us focus on transformation of ideas that focus not only on wealth but values for societies
• We are working together for the future of the whole world
• In India, to live in harmony with mother earth is part of our ancient beliefs
• We need to isolate those who support and sponsor terrorists
• Fight against terrorism has to be fought on many levels
• Globally, terrorism remains the biggest threat
• Strong India-US partnership can anchor peace and prosperity
• Threats of terror are expanding, new challenges are emerging in cyber world and space
• India's strong economy and growth rate is creating new opportunities for our partnership
• My to do list is long and ambitious
• Members of Indian Diaspora are pride of India
• More Americans bend for Yoga than to throw a curved ball
• Our cooperation secures our cities and citizens from terrorists
• Members of Indian Diaspora are pride of India
• More Americans bend for Yoga than to throw a curved ball
• India will never forget US Congress' solidarity after 26/11 attacks
• Our relations have overcome the hesitations of history
• AB Vajpayee had called India and US natural allies, says Narendra Modi
• Gandhi's non-violence inspired Martin Luther King: PM Narendra Modi
• Our founding fathers sought individual liberties for every citizen of India, says PM Narendra Modi
• By giving me this opportunity, you have honoured 1.25 billion Indians: Narendra Modi
• I am deeply honoured to address the US Congress: Modi
• PM Modi welcomed with a thunderous applause by US Congressmen
• PM Narendra Modi reaches US Congress

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday engaged in wide-ranging bilateral talks with US President Barack Obama after arriving at the White House here. This is the seventh meeting between Modi and Obama in the past two years. The talks are expected to cover issues like India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), inclusion in the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), climate change and bilateral investments and trade. Modi arrived here on Monday from Switzerland on his second bilateral visit to the US after his trip in September, 2014. He is visiting the US at the invitation of Obama, who in the last year of his presidency is inviting a few world leaders with whom he shared a "close and productive working relationship". Following Tuesday's talks, Obama will host Modi for lunch. Later in the day, the Prime Minister will attend a meeting of business leaders and then address the annual general meeting of the US-India Business Council (USIBC). After arriving here on Monday, Modi visited the Arlington National Cemetery and laid wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Space Shuttle Colombia Memorial. He also attended a meeting of heads of US think tanks and a function at which some rare Indian artifacts were repatriated. The highlight of Modi's visit will be his address to a joint sitting of the US Congress on Wednesday. He will be the fifth Indian Prime Minister to address the US Congress after Rajiv Gandhi, P.V. Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh. Later on Wednesday, he will leave for Mexico on the fifth and final leg of his five-nation tour. Prior to Switzerland, he visited Afghanistan and Qatar.