9/11 anniversary: PM Modi remembers victims, reaffirms India’s unwavering stand against terror

Remembering those who lost their lives, Modi said India remained committed to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, drawing attention to the country’s experience with cross-border terrorism.

Modi remembers 9/11 victims

“25 years on from the horrific 9/11 attacks, we remember and honour the victims and stand in solidarity with the families whose lives were forever changed. Terrorism has claimed countless lives around the world. As a victim of cross-border terrorism, India has been at the forefront of this fight for several decades,” Modi said in a social media post.

He added, “While the threat keeps evolving, our resolve and opposition to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations remain unwavering. We stand in solidarity with all efforts to combat this scourge.”

The Prime Minister also shared photographs from his visit to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York in 2014.

The 9/11 attacks

On September 11, 2001, 19 al-Qaida terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting the United States.

Two of the aircraft were deliberately flown into the World Trade Centre’s Twin Towers in New York.

A third plane crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, while the fourth aircraft, United Airlines Flight 93, came down near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers and crew members attempted to regain control of the hijacked plane.

UA Flight 175 crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Centre complex in NYC during the 9/11 attacks on September 11, 2001. Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Flickr/Robert J. Fisch

The attacks killed 2,977 people, according to official US figures, excluding the 19 hijackers.

The coordinated assault triggered a major transformation in US national security and counterterrorism policy, while also leading to prolonged military operations overseas and sweeping changes in domestic security measures.

Annual tributes continue

Twenty-five years after the attacks, remembrance ceremonies continue to be held across the United States in honour of those killed.

At Ground Zero in New York, the names of the victims are traditionally read aloud during the annual commemoration, with family members and loved ones taking part in the ceremony.

The attacks were orchestrated by al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

The US launched a global campaign against the organisation and its affiliates following the attacks, including military operations in Afghanistan.

The September 11 attacks have since remained a defining event in discussions around terrorism, international security and the global response to extremist violence.

India’s stand against terror

Modi’s anniversary message placed India’s own experience with terrorism at the centre of its remembrance of the attacks.

By describing India as a victim of cross-border terrorism, the Prime Minister underlined New Delhi’s longstanding position that terrorism remains a global security threat requiring sustained international cooperation.

His message also reiterated India’s opposition to terrorism irrespective of its form or manifestation, while expressing solidarity with international efforts aimed at combating the threat.