Modi emphasizes the need to hold nations promoting terrorism accountable

COLOMBO (News 1st): Several state leaders attended the CICA summit following the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek. SCO represents the largest combined population of any regional grouping in the world with over 3 billion men and women. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, President of Kazakhstan, President of Tajikistan and the President of Uzbekistan presided at the summit. Countries signed a joint declaration at their summit calling for greater cooperation among member countries and reaffirming their intent to ensure security for their region. The declaration says SCO will enhance its participation in efforts to ensure peace and security, consistently advocating the resolution of international and regional conflicts by exclusively peaceful political and diplomatic means, based on the principles of equality, respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, the non use of force or the threat of force. The SCO also called on the international community to promote global cooperation in combatting terrorism with the central role of the UN, and with respect for the sovereignty and independence of all countries. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking at the summit commented on his recent visit to Sri Lanka and the influence of terrorism. Modi claimed that during his visit to the St. Anthony's shrine he witnessed the ugly face of terrorism that appears at any time and takes the life of those innocent on a daily basis. He further said that in order to tackle this kind of danger that all the humanitarian powers should come out of their narrow boundaries and stand united also highlighting the need to hold responsible the nations promoting, supporting and financing terrorism.