External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, chairing the UNSC briefing on Thursday, spoke about the challenges the counter-terrorism architecture is facing across the globe. In a veiled dig at China, EAM Jaishankar lamented that evidence-backed proposals on terrorism are put on hold without assigning adequate reason.
Chairing a briefing on 'Threats to international peace & security caused by terrorist acts: Global counter-terrorism approach – principles & the way forward', EAM Jaishankar said, "Today’s briefing is a part of India’s ongoing efforts in the UN Security Council to re-invigorate its counter-terrorism agenda. And that is overdue because the threat of terrorism has actually become even more serious."
He spoke about the expansion of terror outfits as well as the increase in 'lone wolf' attacks inspired by online radicalization.
ALSO READ | UNSC must become more representative: France, UK support India for permanent seat
"We have seen the expansion of Al-Qaida, Da’esh, Boko Haram and Al Shabab and their affiliates. At the other end of the spectrum are ‘lone wolf’attacks inspired by online radicalization and biases. But somewhere in all this, we cannot forget that old habits and established networks are still alive, especially in South Asia. The contemporary epicenter of terrorism remains very much alive and active, whatever gloss may be applied to minimize unpleasant realities," EAM Jaishankar said.
India is holding the presidency of UNSC for the month of December 2022.
EAM Jaishankar outlined four specific challenges that the counter-terrorism agenda is presently grappling with, including the issue of accountability of counter-terror mechanisms and misuse of new and emerging technologies by terrorists.
“Four specific challenges with which the counter-terrorism architecture is grappling- terror financing and State culpability, ensuring the integrity and accountability of the counter-terror multilateral mechanisms and their working methods, addressing double standards in countering terrorism, leading to concerns of politicization, and countering threats from the misuse of new and emerging technologies by terrorists,” EAM Dr S Jaishankar said.
“The suggestion that states who are apparently capable on everything else but are only helpless when it comes to terrorism is ludicrous. Accountability must therefore be the bedrock of counter-terrorism,” he added.
His remarks appeared to be a reference to repeated blocks on proposals to blacklist terrorists, particularly those based on Pakistani soil like Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, in the UN Security Council's by veto-wielding permanent members such as China.
Here are the top quotes from Jaishankar's powerful speech at the U
"The knock-on effects of conflict situations have also underscored the necessity for a more broad-based global governance. Recent concerns over food, fertiliser and fuel security were not adequately articulated in the highest councils of decision making. Much of the world was therefore led to believe that their interests did not matter. We cannot let that happen again."N.
On the challenge of terrorism, even as the world is coming together with a more collective response, multilateral platforms are being misused to justify and protect perpetrators."
"When it comes to climate action and climate justice, the state of affairs is no better. Instead of addressing the relevant issues in the appropriate forum, we have seen attempts at distraction and diversion
You must be logged in to post a comment.