PM Modi says those challenging the integrity of India will not be tolerated; the two nations agree to facilitate cooperation between law enforcement agencies.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday delivered an unequivocal message to visiting Canadian PM Justin Trudeau that those “challenging the integrity of India will not be tolerated”.
The two countries also agreed to “work together to neutralise the threats emanating from terrorist groups”, including Babbar Khalsa International, and the International Sikh Youth Federation.
“They recognised the urgent imperative to disrupt recruitment, terrorist movements and the flow of foreign terrorist fighters, address the threat posed by cross-border and state-sponsored terrorism, stop sources of terrorist financing, dismantle terrorist infrastructure and prevent supply of arms to terrorists and counter violent extremism and radicalisation to violence,” the ministry of external affairs said in a statement.
It further said that India and Canada “emphasised the need to deny operating space to terrorist and violent extremist groups…Al Qaida, ISIS, the Haqqani Network, LeT, JeM, Babbar Khalsa International, and the International Sikh Youth Federation”.
The mention of Sikh separatist groups like BKI and the ISYF assumes significance in the backdrop of a tense Trudeau visit, which came under a cloud because of his government’s perceived soft approach towards Sikh extremists demanding a separate Khalistani state.
“As multi-cultural, diverse, pluralistic societies, committed to democratic principles, human rights and the rule of law, India and Canada recognise the grave challenges posed by terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation to violence,” the statement said.
India’s National Security Advisor and his Candian counterpart “reaffirmed the shared resolve of both India and Canada to combat terrorism and violent extremism in all their forms and manifestations,” the framework on India-Canada cooperation says.
The objective of the framework is “to facilitate effective cooperation between law enforcement and security agencies and legal and policy practitioners”.
In line with Modi’s statement earlier in the day where he talked about the unity, integrity and sovereignty of India, the statement says the “framework is based on fundamental respect for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of India and Canada”.
The specific reference to the Sikh separatist outfits as “terrorist groups” in the framework would be seen as a diplomatic gain for India, which has made its displeasure over Trudeau government’s perceived proximity to such groups fairly evident.