No Compromise on Terrorism, Strategic Trust Key to Growth: PM Modi in Malaysia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday underlined that India’s stance on terrorism is firm and uncompromising, while stressing that strategic trust between New Delhi and Kuala Lumpur is central to economic transformation.
The remarks came during a joint press statement with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, following delegation-level talks during Modi’s official visit.
“On terrorism, our message is clear—no double standards, no compromise,” Modi said, reiterating India’s continued support for all initiatives that advance peace and stability.
Security, Defence and Economic Cooperation
Highlighting the security dimension of the partnership, Modi said the two sides would deepen cooperation in counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing and maritime security, while also expanding defence collaboration.
On the economic front, he outlined a forward-looking agenda covering artificial intelligence, digital technologies, semiconductors, healthcare and food security.
“The CEO Forum held today has opened new avenues for trade and investment,” Modi noted, adding that economic transformation would be driven by strategic trust between the two countries.
Strong Joint Stand Against Terrorism
The joint statement issued after the talks reflected an unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism.
The two leaders called for zero tolerance and urged coordinated international action to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner.
They also agreed to counter radicalization and violent extremism, curb terror financing, and prevent the misuse of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes through closer cooperation, information sharing, exchange of best practices and capacity building.
The statement further acknowledged the links between terrorism and transnational organized crime, committing both sides to enhanced cooperation in tackling such threats.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral and multilateral efforts against terrorism, including at forums such as the United Nations and the Financial Action Task Force.
A Shift in Bilateral Priorities
The tone and content of the joint statement signal that Malaysia is placing renewed priority on its relationship with India, a country with a significant Indian-origin population in Malaysia.
Observers see this as a notable shift from earlier perceptions of Kuala Lumpur aligning more closely with Pakistan on issues such as Kashmir.
Modi’s visit comes shortly after India indicated that the extradition of fugitive preacher Zakir Naik would be among the issues discussed with the Malaysian leadership.
Indo-Pacific and Global Outlook
Speaking on regional dynamics, Modi described the Indo-Pacific as the emerging growth engine of the world.
Anwar, in turn, acknowledged India’s growing stature in global trade and economics, noting steady expansion in bilateral cooperation across trade, investment, connectivity and defence.
Calling the partnership “comprehensive,” Anwar said it spans trade and investment, food security, defence, healthcare and tourism, and expressed confidence that both governments could implement decisions swiftly.
Agreements and Trade Ambitions
After their meeting, Modi and Anwar witnessed the exchange of 11 cooperation agreements, covering areas such as semiconductors, disaster management and peacekeeping.
Anwar also reaffirmed Malaysia’s support for local-currency settlement mechanisms and voiced optimism that bilateral trade would exceed last year’s $18.6 billion.
Together, the outcomes of the visit underscore a broad-based, future-oriented partnership anchored in shared security concerns, economic ambition and a united stand against terrorism.
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