State sponsorship of terrorism biggest threat world facing today: Modi

Terrorism is not just a threat for a country but to the entire civilization, PM Modi said at Maldives

In a veiled attack on Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Saturday that state sponsorship of terrorism is the biggest threat the humanity is facing today as he urged the world leaders to unite for combating the menace.

Addressing the Maldivian Parliament, the Majlis, Modi said that relations between India and Maldives are older than history.

"Today I want to emphasise that every Indian was with you for the strengthening of democracy in the Maldives," he said.

Terrorism is not just a threat for a country but to the entire civilization, he said.

"It is very unfortunate that people are still making the mistake of distinguishing between good terrorists and bad terrorists.

"State sponsorship of terrorism is the biggest threat the world is facing today," Modi said, in an apparent reference to Pakistan.

India in the past has blamed Pakistan for carrying out terrorist attacks in the country and asked it to stop supporting terror outfits operating from its soil.

"The water is now rising above the head," Modi said as he urged the world leaders to unite for combating the menace.

"Combating terrorism and radicalisation is the most accurate test of the leadership in the world," he said.

Modi arrived in the Maldives on Saturday on his first foreign visit after re-election as Prime Minister to strengthen the bilateral ties, reflecting the importance India attaches to its 'Neighbourhood First' policy.