PM Modi takes swipe at Pakistan for using terrorism as political tool

United Nations:Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that countries with "regressive thinking" that are using terrorism as a "political tool" must understand that it is an equally big threat for them also, in a veiled attack on Pakistan which is often accused by its neighbours of providing safe havens to terrorists.
Addressing the 76th UN General Assembly here, Prime Minister Modi also said that in order to strengthen the rules-based world order, the international community must speak in unison, in an apparent reference to China which is flexing its military muscles in the Indo-Pacific.
Noting that the world is facing an increased threat of regressive thinking and extremism, Modi said countries that are using terrorism as a political tool have to understand that terrorism is an equally big threat to them.
"It is absolutely essential to ensure that Afghanistan's territory is not used to spread terrorism and for terrorist activities, he said. We also need to ensure that no country tries to take advantage of the delicate situation in Afghanistan and use it for its own selfish interests.
Pakistan's neighbours, including Afghanistan and India, and the US have long accused Islamabad of providing safe haven and support to militants, a charge denied by it.
Modi said that oceans are also a shared heritage.
"Our oceans are also the lifeline of international trade. We must protect them from the race for expansion. The international community must speak in one voice to strengthen a rule-based world order, he added.
Sharing experience of fighting the COVID-19, PM said that pandemic has taught the people that they are "stronger and better" when they are together.
Addressing Global Citizen Live', Modi also warned that the threat of climate change is looming large before the world.
"For almost two years now, humanity is battling a once in a lifetime global pandemic. Our shared experience of fighting the pandemic has taught us - we are stronger and better when we are together," he said in a video message.
He said the world saw glimpses of this collective spirit when the COVID-19 warriors, doctors, nurses, medical staff gave their best to defeat the pandemic.
"We saw this spirit in our scientists and innovators who created new vaccines in record time, he said, adding that generations will remember the manner in which human resilience prevailed over everything else.
Warning that the threat of climate change is looming large before the world, Prime Minister Modi told the global audience that the simplest and most successful ways to mitigate climate change is to lead lifestyles that are in harmony with nature.
"The threat of climate change is looming large before us. The world will have to accept that any change in the global environment first begins with the self, Modi said.
"The great Mahatma Gandhi is widely known for his thoughts on peace and non-violence but do you know that he is also among the greatest environmentalists of the world, Modi said.
He added that Gandhi led a zero-carbon footprints lifestyle.
"In whatever he did, he put the welfare of our planet above everything else," Modi said emphasising that Gandhi highlighted the doctrine of trusteeship "where we all are trustees of the planet with a duty of caring for it."
Modi told the global festival that today India is the only G-20 nation that is on track with its Paris commitments.
"India is also proud to have brought the world together under the banner of the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure," he said, underscoring that "we believe in the development of India for the development of the humankind."
Modi also said that poverty cannot be fought by making the poor more dependent on governments.
"Poverty can be fought when the poor start seeing governments as trusted partners. Trusted partners who will give them the enabling infrastructure to forever break the vicious circle of poverty, he added.