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With Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to attend the G7 summit in Canada, former diplomat KP Fabian said on Saturday that without India's presence, the summit which discusses various issues pertaining to the economy, security, and terrorism could not have been "effective".
"The G7 meeting, which is effective on having conversations about what is happening to global economy, security issues, war and peace, as well as terrorism and necessary counter-terrorism measures, cannot be effective without India's presence," Fabian told ANI here. He further said that Canadian PM Mark Carney "has done the right thing," by sending an invite to PM Modi, even if some might say there was a "slight delay." He further said that he thinks that PM Modi will raise the issue of terrorism post Operation Sindoor. "So, I take it that Prime Minister Modi will raise the issue of terrorism apart from other issues, climate change, everything will be raised but there should be more focus on terrorism. Even after Pahalgam that the rest of the world, especially the west have not really woken up," he said. Earlier in the day, PM Carney said that G7 countries will hold discussions on important issues, including security and energy, in their upcoming summit, adding that India's presence at the intergovernmental political and economic forum is essential. The effort seems a bid to thaw the frozen ties between the nations. The Canadian PM said that India, being the fifth largest economy and the most populous country in the world, must be at the seat. "Let's put the two aspects in context- first is, we are in the role- Canada's in the role of the G7 chair and in those discussions as agreed with our G7 colleagues, include important discussions on energy, security, on digital future, critical minerals amongst others and partnerships actually in building infrastructure in the emerging and developing world," he said. Underlining how India is central to a number of supply chains, which makes its presence pertinent at the G7 chair consultation. The announcement comes after a period of severely strained relations between the two countries, triggered by Canadian allegations that Indian agents were involved in the June 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar--a Canadian citizen and prominent pro-Khalistan activist--outside a Sikh temple in Vancouver, as per DW News. India strongly denied the claims, and both nations expelled senior diplomats in a tit-for-tat escalation, DW News reported. (ANI)
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