From Rahami to Bin Laden: How PM Modi showed Pakistan is 'Ivy League of Terrorism'

One of the highlights of India’s reply to Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly was Eenam Gambhir's sharp rebuttal to Pak PM Sharif’s speech where she branded Pakistan the ‘host to the Ivy League of terrorism’. It was a phrase that stuck thanks to its accessibility to millions across the world who know what Ivy League stands for.  Exercising India's Right of Reply to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's "long tirade" about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir made a strong rebuttal. "What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan's long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region," she said.

Gambhir said India sees in Pakistan "a terrorist state" which channelizes billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. She noted that the land of Taxila, one of the greatest learning centres of ancient times, "is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism" and attracts aspirants and apprentices from all over the world.

Now, it seems like PM Modi looked to expand on that remark as he referred to Pakistan’s close connection with global terror. He said that whenever a terrorist attack happens around the world you soon find out that the terrorist either has Pakistani connections, or terrorists go back to Pakistan (like Osama Bin Landen) to ‘settle down’. In his speech, PM Modi also hinted at Ahmad Khan Rahami's case, the New York City bomber who had travelled to Pakistan four times between 2005 and 2014. 

 In a blunt warning to Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Uri attack will not be forgotten as he accused it of conspiring to spill blood across Asia by exporting terror. Launching a blistering attack on Pakistan in his first public address after last Sunday's deadly terror attack, he said the sacrifice of 18 soldiers will not go in vain while all out efforts will be made to isolate that country globally. "Terrorists should hear out clearly that India will never forget the Uri attack... I want to tell the leadership of Pakistan that the sacrifice of our 18 jawans will not go in vain," Modi told a largely-attended public meeting on the Kozhikode beach held on the sidelines of the BJP national council meet. 

He said while countries in Asia are working to make the 21st century Asia's, Pakistan is engaged in a conspiracy of causing bloodshed across the continent by sponsoring terrorism and killing innocents.Asserting that Pakistan was behind terror incidents in Afghanistan, Bangladesh besides India, he said "across the world wherever a terrorist incident happens you will find that either terrorists had gone from there (Pakistan) or come to live there like Osama-bin Laden."  He indicated that India's efforts will be directed at isolating Pakistan diplomatically, saying it has already succeeded in this regard and will speed up measures in this regard.

The Prime Minister, who has been having meetings with top ministers, BJP leaders and service chiefs in the last few days, however, did not spell out the nature of what India's response would be. Modi said India had never bowed to terror and will never do so in future and will strive to defeat it. "India has never bowed to terrorism, nor will it ever. It will pause only after defeating it," he said. 

With inputs from PTI

"Across the world wherever a terror incident happens you will find that either terrorists had gone from there (Pakistan) or have settled there after committing the crime like Osama bin Laden," Modi said, referring to the al Qaeda leader. 

He said every country is holding one nation responsible for terrorism as only that country in Asia is a safe haven for terrorists. "This is the only country engaged in exporting terror across the world," he said. Modi said there were 17 attempts by fidayen attackers sent by the neighbouring country which have been defeated by brave Indian soldiers who have neutralised over 110 terrorists which is the highest in recent years.
"Terrorism is the enemy of humanity. Humanitarians all over the world have to unite and condemn terror," he said.  

With terror attacks sparking security concerns in the country, Modi assured countrymen that India was safe and 125 crore people took pride in the valour and bravery of its soldiers and security personnel. "Our soldiers have saved the country from these potentially devastating incidents. The 125 crore people of India are proud of our soldiers, their valour and sacrifices. "The neighbouring country succeeded in one attempt and killed our 18 soldiers. You can imagine how much of destruction would have been caused across the country had it succeeded in 17 others," he said.

"Arms are just toys for soldiers and their real strength is the morale of the country," he said, adding the country's morale is high. Acknowledging that there is an atmosphere of anger in the country over the attack, Modi accused the "rulers" in Pakistan of reading out the scripts written by patrons of terrorists, an apparent reference to its Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's speech at the United Nations. Modi also reached out to the people of Pakistan and asked them to question their government as to why it keeps talking about Kashmir and misleads them when it cannot handle PoK, Baluchistan and Gilgit and recalled how it could not handle Bangladesh, which was once its part. "The leaders of the neighbouring country who read out scripts written by terrorists are singing the Kashmir song. 

Today from here, I want to talk to people of Pakistan directly. I want to remind them that before 1947, your forefathers had saluted this land," he said. "Pakistan's public should ask its leaders as to why despite getting Independence together what is the reason India exports software and Pakistan exports terrorism." Lashing out at the neighbouring country, Modi said its leaders used to say that they will fight for 1000 years with India and wondered where they were now. "I accept this challenge. I want to tell you that India wants to fight with Pakistan. If you have the courage then why not fight to end poverty, unemployment, illiteracy. Let us see which country wins, India or Pakistan," he said. He said his government will strive hard to end poverty and make India prosperous as envisioned by Jan Sangh founder Deen Dayal Upadhyay whose centenary celebration starts tomorrow. 

With inputs from PTI