Terrorism as sensitive issue as nuclear proliferation: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged the international community to show as much sensitivity to the issue of terrorism as to nuclear proliferation and called for pressure on countries that provide shelter to terrorists.

"There is a threat to humanity from terrorism. Traditions might be different, but humanitarian forces should come together. And all humanitarian forces should speak in one voice and make collective efforts," Modi said at a joint press meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, after their talks.

In an apparent reference to Pakistan, Modi said: "Pressure should be created on governments who give shelter to terrorists."

He said those supporting terrorism need to be "isolated" and there was a need for a comprehensive global strategy to deal with the challenge to humanity and all powers who believe in humanity need to speak in one voice and with the same intensity.

"When we talked of terrorism 25 years back, people used to say it is a law and order problem. Now they have realized how dangerous it is," he said.

"Till the time powers having faith in humanity do not act in unison, they (terrorists) get a free run. How to stop them from getting weapons? If there are governments which provide shelter, how to put pressure on them? The kind of sensitivity there is on the issue of nuclear weapons, the same sensitivity should be there about nations which provide shelter to terrorists," Modi said.

"The spread of terrorism is growing and its character is changing. The threat is coming close to us across every region of the world. We need a comprehensive global strategy to deal with this global challenge, in which India and Germany can work together," he said.

He also pitched for the United Nations to pass a resolution defining terrorism."There is a proposal pending for a long time where there is a need to define terror. I would request the United Nations to pass the resolution and define terror. Only then we can unite people opposing terrorism," he said.