No country should provide shelter to terrorists, says Modi after Lakhvi’s release

Paris: On a day Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi was released, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today gave a veiled message to Pakistan, saying no country should provide shelter to terrorists but should punish them.

“There is a need for global action to deal with terrorism. All nations should commit that they will not provide shelter to terrorists but punish them,” Modi said at a joint press interaction with French President Francois Hollande after their talks here.

Hollande said he understands anger in India over the release of a person who is responsible for such a reprehensible act, a reference to Lakhvi who was behind the attack in Mumbai in November 2008 that claimed 166 lives.

Modi and Hollande discussed the issue of terrorism in the context of recent attack in Paris and release of Lakhvi and decided to intensify cooperation against the menace.

“The world is facing many challenges. There is an upheaval in the world and all are affected…Terror is spreading in new forms in various countries,” the Prime Minister said.

France suffered in Paris when terrorists struck here in January and understands India’s “pain” over terrorism, he said.