Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for
a closer security relationship between his country and the United States on
Wednesday, in an address to the U.S. Congress stressing the importance of
warming ties between the two countries.
He
dedicated much of the speech to the importance of fighting terrorism, thanking
Congress for U.S. support after a Pakistan-based military group's rampage in
Mumbai killed 166 people in 2008.
"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," Modi told a rare joint meeting of the Senate and House of
Representatives.
"We
have both lost civilians and soldiers in combating it. The need of the hour is
for us to deepen our security cooperation," Modi said.
He
leavened the speech to lawmakers, the first such address by an international
leader since Pope Francis' in September, with jokes about Congress' bitter
partisan divide and yoga. But Modi used it to make serious points about India's
neighbour and arch-rival Pakistan and regional concerns about Chinese
expansionism.
Modi is
on the U.S. leg of an international tour. On Tuesday, he met with President
Barack Obama at the White House, where the two leaders said India agreed to
work toward joining the Paris Agreement on climate change this year and
discussed security and cybersecurity issues.
The visit, two years after Modi became prime
minister, capped an improving relationship between New Delhi and the United
States. Before he was elected, Modi was barred from even entering the country
because of concerns about his handling of 2002 riots that killed at least 1,000
people, mostly Muslims.
PERSONAL
TIES TO OBAMA
"We are now standing
shoulder to shoulder in ways that no one could have imagined a generation
ago," Representative Eliot Engel, the top Democrat on the House Foreign
Affairs committee, said at a reception for Modi after the address.
In
a 45-minute speech interrupted by cheers and at least eight standing ovations,
the 65-year-old Indian leader said deeper U.S.-Indian security cooperation
should isolate anyone who harbours, supports or sponsors terrorists.
Although
he did not mention Pakistan, that line was greeted with applause from the
lawmakers, many of whom are increasingly frustrated with what they see as
Islamabad's failure to crack down on militants behind attacks on American troops
in Afghanistan.
Modi
also stressed that India is committed to helping rebuild a peaceful and stable
Afghanistan.
Amid
heightened tensions over China's assertive pursuit of territory in the South
China Sea, Modi said a stronger U.S.-India partnership could boost peace and
prosperity "from Asia to Africa and from the Indian Ocean to the
Pacific." He did not mention China.
"It
can also help ensure security of the sea lanes and commerce and freedom of
navigation on seas," Modi added.
Democrats
leaped to their feet when Modi referred to the recent climate change summit.
But Republicans in the House chamber remained seated, reflecting the U.S.
political divide over the issue.
House
Speaker Paul Ryan greeted Modi at his office before his speech. After the Indian
leader's remarks, he attended lunch with congressional leaders and a reception
with members of the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations
committees.
Source: Reuters
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon