Cost must be imposed on nations which aid terrorism as part of their foreign policy: PM Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said cost must be imposed on countries which aid terrorism as part of their foreign policy by providing political, ideological and financial support.

Organisations and individuals that try to create sympathy for terrorists must also be isolated, he said addressing the third ‘No Money for Terror Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing’ hosted by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

“There can be no ifs and buts interfering in such matters. The world needs to be united against all kinds of overt and covert backing of terrorism,” Modi said.

The prime minister said tactical gains against terrorists will soon be lost without a larger strategy aimed at hurting terror finances.

“International organisations must not think that absence of war means peace. Proxy wars are also dangerous and violent. There must be a cost imposed on countries that support terrorism,” the prime minister said.

He said sovereign nations have a right to their own systems but “we must not allow extremist elements to misuse differences between systems”.

participating in the conference, officials said.

“The two-day conference on November 18 and 19 will offer a unique platform for participating nations and organisations to deliberate on the effectiveness of the current international regime on counter-terrorism financing as well as steps required to address emerging challenges,” an official statement said.

The event will be attended by about 450 delegates from across the world, including ministers, heads of multilateral organisations and Financial Action Task Force (FATF) heads of delegations.