Concerned over the latest attack on its embassy in Kabul, India has asked world leaders to strengthen the legal framework in the fight against terror by expeditiously concluding negotiations on an international treaty proposed by it to tackle the menace.
“Our embassy in Kabul was again subjected to yet another terrorist attack, which has resulted in injury of Indian security personnel as well as death of large number of Afghan civilians,” India’s envoy to the UN, Hardeep Singh Puri, told a General Assembly committee.
“While it is important for the international community to condemn terrorism and these attacks in an unequivocal manner, it is also critical that we strengthen the legal framework in the fight against terrorism,” he said.
The Taliban had claimed responsibility for the bombing, saying that the Indian embassy “was the main target“.
The top Indian diplomat stressed that in view of the growing threat of terror attacks, it was time to wrap up the draft for the ‘Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT)’ since the document submitted by India had been under negotiations for years.
“Countless innocent lives have been lost to heinous terrorist attacks. It is imperative that our resolve against perpetrators of such attacks now be manifested in a strong and resolute manner,” Puri told the committee that handles a range of social, humanitarian affairs and human rights issues affecting people all over the world.
“It is time for the global community to conclude the negotiations and make a firm commitment by adopting the Convention,” he added.
A revised draft of the treaty against terrorism was submitted by India in 2001 to the UN. It is now stuck for a variety of legal and technical issues including differences over the definition of terrorism.
Earlier, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul as a “senseless” act.
“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the senseless attack that took place in Kabul, in the vicinity of the Indian Embassy and the Afghan Ministry of the Interior,” Michelle Montas, spokesperson for Ban, said.
The UN Security Council also deplored the “reprehensible” attack demanding that those responsible be brought to justice.
