France firmly in India’s corner: Kashmir a bilateral issue, strong statements on terrorism

PM Modi hugs French President Emmanuel Macron (image:TheHindu)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the French President Emmanuel Macron in Chantilly, France and briefed him on the recent Government of India’s decision to abrogate Article 370 making Jammu and Kashmir an integral part of India without any riders attached. In a joint statement issued last evening, the French President said that the Kashmir situation between India and Pakistan is a bilateral issue and no third party should interfere or incite violence.

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“PM Modi told me what decisions the government has taken and that they are based on India’s sovereignty. However, it is important that there is stability there and we must ensure that the situation doesn’t worsen,” said the French President.

The French President also issued a strong statement on terrorism and called upon “all countries to work together for halting cross-border movement of terrorists belonging to Al Qaeda, ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Tayabba and their affiliates in South Asia and Sahel region.

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The two countries also called upon UN member countries to implement UNSC Resolution 2462 on Fighting Terrorist Financing adopted last March and agreed to call upon a global conference to tackle terrorism threat across the globe.

President Macron expressed condolences over the ghastly Pulwama attack earlier this year and added that India and France would continue to work together to fight terrorism. Reaffirming the commitment to ‘Make In India’, President Macron said that our defence sector shows how much we trust each other. He even added that the first Rafale aircraft will reach India next month.

President Macron also added that he would like India to be a part of the G7 and that he has changed some parts about how G7 is organised. G7 consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom and United State of America.

OpIndia Staff: Staff reporter at OpIndia