Modi's clarion call - "Raise voice against unilateralism" : Quad condemns Pak terror acts

Modi's clarion call - "Raise voice against unilateralism" :  Quad condemns Pak terror acts

New Delhi

In a major win to the Moditva-diplomatic statecraft, the Quad Leaders Summit condemned terror attacks in Mumbai and in Pathankot. India will also host the next in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit in 2024.

For his part as the leader of 'New India', Prime Minister Narendra Modi categorically asserted that if no drastic change is brought in the United Nations (UN) at the earliest the world body may end up becoming just a "talk shop".

".....it is necessary that reforms should be given concrete shape in big institutions like the UN. It will also have to become the voice of the Global South. Otherwise we will just keep talking about ending conflict. The UN and Security Council will become just a talk shop," Mr Modi said in his opening statement at the G-7 Working Session on 'Toward a Peaceful, Stable and Prosperous World'.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the UN, which was established with the very purpose of establishing peace, 

has "often failed" to prevent conflicts today.

"Why, even the definition of terrorism has not been accepted in the UN yet ? If introspection is done, then 

one thing is clear. The institutions created in the last century are not in line with the system of the twenty-first 

century. They do not reflect the realities of the present," he said the meet of world's leading industrialists' nations

group.

"Raise your voice together against unilateral attempts to change the status quo," he said in what is

understood as a veiled reference to China.

For that matter the rest of the world had been attacking Russia for opening its conflict with Ukraine.

Mr Modi said, "India has always been of the opinion that any tension, any dispute should be resolved 

through peaceful means, through dialogue".

In this context he cited the manner Indo-Bangladesh land and maritime boundary disputes were resolved.

"And if there is a solution from the law, then it should be accepted. And it was in this spirit 

that India resolved its land and maritime boundary dispute with Bangladesh, the Prime Minister pointed out.

Much to the satisfaction of the Indian side and what could be at the chagrin of Pakistan, the Quad Leaders Summit 

including US President Joe Biden condemned terror attack in Mumbai and in Pathankot. 

"We unequivocally condemn terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations 

including cross-border terrorism. We are committed to international cooperation and will work with our 

regional partners in a comprehensive and sustained manner to strengthen capability to prevent, detect 

and respond to threats posed by terrorism and violent extremism, consistent with international law," 

the Quad statement said after their Summit meet in Hiroshima.

"We are committed to working together to promote accountability for the perpetrators of such terrorist attacks," 

it said in a veiled attack to Pakistan.

"We reiterate our condemnation of terrorist attacks, including the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai and in 

Pathankot, and our commitment to pursuing designations, as appropriate, by the UN Security Council 

1267 Sanctions Committee. We will strengthen our cooperation through the new Working Group on Counter

terrorism announced during the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in March 2023," the Quad leaders said.

The leaders of the Quad group – Australia, India, Japan and the United States – delivered a thinly veiled swipe at Beijing’s behaviour on Saturday at a summit in Hiroshima. - The Guardian, London  

“We strongly oppose destabilising or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion,” a Quad statement said, using diplomatic language that appeared to refer to China’s economic tactics to gain leverage over poorer countries and also its military expansion in the Pacific.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the US president, Joe Biden, and their two partners in the group -- Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did not mention China by name but the communist superpower was clearly the target of language in a joint statement calling for “peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific maritime domain”.  

“We seek a region where no country dominates and no country is dominated — one where all countries are free from coercion, and can exercise their agency to determine their futures,” the leaders said.

The Quad leaders held their meeting while already gathered in Hiroshima for a Group of 7 summit.

The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, had been scheduled to host Biden, Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in Sydney next week. However, Biden pulled out, saying he had to return to Washington from Japan on Sunday to negotiate with Republican opponents on the US debt ceiling.

The Indian government also took keen interest to ensure the Quad Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima once the Australian mega event was cancelled.

In their statement, they stressed the Quad’s support for infrastructure improvements across the vast Asia-Pacific region, while saying, in another apparent dig at China, that they wanted to assist such investments but would “not impose unsustainable debt burdens” on the recipients of assistance.

Among the projects the Quad leaders highlighted was the “urgent need to support quality undersea cable networks in the Indo-Pacific, which are key to global growth and prosperity”. They announced a partnership aiming to draw on their countries’ expertise in the specialist maritime cable sector.

They also said that an existing pilot programme for hi-tech monitoring of illegal fishing would expand. They said they were “deeply concerned” by repression in Myanmar, and they condemned “North Korea’s destabilising ballistic missile launches and pursuit of nuclear weapons in violation of multiple UN security council resolutions”.

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 Modi, Zelenskyy steal limelight: G-7 seeks 'Chinese help' but warns against militarization 

New Delhi 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in person since the outbreak of conflict in Hiroshima on the sidelines of G-7 Summit in Hiroshima was a major talking point during the just concluded G-7 Summit and Quad Leaders' Meet.

"Zelenskyy got off to a fast start on his visit" and both the leaders held "amicable talks", commented 'The Japan Times'.

'Oraganiser'

PM Modi and Ukrainian president were invited to the G-7 Summit by this year's host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and hence the in-person meeting was crucial. Of course, both Modi and Zelenskyy have held tele talks and all occasions and all major diplomatic stages, the Prime Minister (Modi) and the Indian government have consistently backed the idea of Dialogue to resolve the crisis.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has also told Rajya Sabha that India's policy towards Russia-Ukraine

conflict required “immediate cessation of violence and end to hostilities and also a return to the

path of dialogue and diplomacy”.

Even on May 20th after his meeting with the Ukrainian president, Prime Minister Modi tweeted saying, "Conveyed our clear support for dialogue and diplomacy to find a way forward. We will continue extending humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine".

International media and India watchers are aware of the fact that India and Russia have close economic and defence ties and also that India on multiple occasions abstained from voting in the UN and has rather taken a more neutral stance on the conflict. However, Modi's message on Twitter that he had conveyed New Delhi's "clear support for dialogue and diplomacy to find a way forward" found prominent mention in the media reports globally including in Japanese newspapers.

Zelenskyy also held talks with other world leaders including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

US President Joe Biden told G-7 leaders that the US would assist with training Ukrainian pilots on modern 

fighter aircraft, including American-made F-16s. "Ukraine is expected to mount a counteroffensive this spring 

against Russian troops," says USA Today. 

The Ukrainian leader's arrival at Hiroshima Airport was broadcast live on many Japanese TV channels.

"Japan. G7. Important meetings with partners and friends of Ukraine. Security and enhanced cooperation for our 

victory. Peace will become closer today," he wrote on Twitter after making the nearly 9,000-kilometer journey to Hiroshima 

on a French military jet from the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah. 

Interestingly on the global stage, Zelenskyy's presence in Hiroshima has been seen as a diplomatic coup

by Japanese PM Kishida.

The leaders of the Quad group – Australia, India, Japan and the United States – delivered a thinly veiled swipe at Beijing’s behaviour on Saturday at the summit. 

“We strongly oppose destabilising or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion,” 

a Quad statement said, using diplomatic language that appeared to refer to China’s economic tactics 

to gain leverage over poorer countries and also its military expansion in the Pacific.

Olive branch and 'warning' : G-7 stance on China

The G7 countries, many of which have economies that are deeply intertwined with China, also held out 

an olive branch, it has been stated by analysts.

"We will seek to address the challenges posed by China’s non-market policies and practices, which distort 

the global economy.  We will counter malign practices, such as illegitimate technology transfer or data disclosure," 

the Group of Seven -- G 7 - leaders said on Saturday, May 20 in a joint statement after their Summit at Hiroshima.

"We remain seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas. We strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion," - they also said.

If these were warning to China over its “militarization activities”, they also sought to win Beijing’s support to pursue Russian leadership to halt its invasion of Ukraine.

"There is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, and we oppose China’s militarization activities in the region," the statement said and also maintained ---

"We call on China to press Russia to stop its military aggression, and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine.

"We encourage China to support a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on territorial integrity and the 

principles and purposes of the UN Charter, including through its direct dialogue with Ukraine," the statement said.

"Our policy approaches are not designed to harm China nor do we seek to thwart China’s economic progress 

and development. A growing China that plays by international rules would be of global interest,"  the statement said.

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