PM Modi raised issue of terror at SAARC Summit: MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the issue of terror, and how it impinges on all societies at the 18th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit in Kathmandu.

"He emphasized on times and technology for the benefit of all of our citizens and also on the evil of terror and how it impinges on all our societies. This was not the only person who raised terror issue, there were large number of other countries who did indicate their concern on terror being an impediment to our citizens and impacting adversely on that," said MEA official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.

Akbaruddin reiterated that no meeting has been planned between Prime Minister Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Shaif.

"As I have told you earlier also, we do not plan any structured meeting between our Prime Minister and the Pakistani Prime Minister, simply because we have not received a request to that extent," he said.

Reacting to the issue of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks being raised by Prime Minister Modi during his address at the SAARC Summit, Akbaruddin said that the matter is on high agenda.

"As today is 26/11, so the matter has to come up in SAARC. This is important, we will never forget what had happened and earlier in the morning also the Prime Minister has tweeted about this and raised it here also," said Akbaruddin.

"This is a matter we will pursue and this is a matter high on our agenda. But this is a bilateral issue, we will pursue separately," he added.

Akbaruddin further said SAARC is focused on deepening cooperation among the grouping.