Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], September 1 (ANI): Pakistan cannot survive without terrorism and uses it as its functional, behavioural, instinctive, and continuous policy, former Union Minister MJ Akbar said on Tuesday and noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly pointed out at the SCO Summit in Bishkek that one of the biggest dangers to peace and stability in the 21st century, is terrorism.

Speaking with ANI, MJ Akbar said Pakistan has double face and it attempts to show one face at conferences but in its behaviour, its true face is represented by its army and by its army chief.

'Prime Minister Modi has been very consistent in pointing out, noting, and hammering away at the obvious truth that one of the biggest dangers to the 21st century, to peace and stability in the 21st century, is terrorism. And while the full text of the Mecca Pact has still not been disclosed, there is a question of whether the three countries of the Mecca Pact identified terrorism as a serious threat and as an enemy to humanity. Did Pakistan allow that? Would Pakistan, which uses terrorism as its functional, behavioural, instinctive, and continuous policy, have signed a pact if this was included? Probably not, because Pakistan cannot survive without terrorism,' he said.

MJ Akbar, a former Minister of State for External Affairs, was answering a query about PM Modi's remarks at SCO to dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorism.

'Prime Minister Modi has pointed it out, and of course, the Pakistani Prime Minister has no answer and will not address the subject. We cannot talk to Pakistan about terrorism because Pakistan has a double face. Which face shall we talk to? It shows, or attempts to show, one face when it appears at conferences, but in its behaviour, the true face of Pakistan is represented by its army and by its army chief, who believes in faith-based supremacism as the justification for terrorism,' MJ Akbar added.

In his remarks at the SCO Summit, PM Modi said terrorism continues to pose a serious challenge to humanity as a whole.

'In the fight against terrorism, we cannot remain confined to an action-reaction approach. We must dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorist financing, recruitment, radicalisation, and safe havens. We must speak with one voice and make it clear that there can be no place for double standards on this serious issue,' he said.

'We must send a strong message to countries that use terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide safe haven and support to terrorists that terrorism can never be a strategic asset for anyone,' PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister said that SCO's shared aspiration for a peaceful and secure Eurasia is also closely linked to peace and stability in Afghanistan.

'India has been contributing to the development and provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and will continue to do so,' he said.

India's priorities found place in the SCO Bishkek Declaration. The member states reaffirmed the idea of 'One Earth. One Family. One Future' for developing dialogue.

They strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, emphasized that 'double standards' in the fight against terrorism are unacceptable, and called on the international community to combat terrorism, including the cross-border movement of terrorists. (ANI)