During its current presidency of the 15-member United Nations Security Council (UNSC), India is making its stand on counterterrorism bold and clear. Ahead of its briefing on “Global counter-terrorism approach” on Thursday, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, asked Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, for a concept note on the topic be circulated as a UNSC document.
The era of classifying terrorists as “bad” or “good” on the basis of “political convenience” must end immediately, said the concept note circulated by India, underlining that categorising terror acts by intent as religious or ideologically motivated will dilute the shared global commitment to fighting terrorism. Stressing that terrorism could not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group, the note said all acts of terrorism were criminal. “Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations must be condemned. There cannot be an exception or justification for any act of terrorism, regardless of its motivation and wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed,” it said.
Pointing out how the 9/11 attack in the United States was a “turning point” for the global approach to counter-terrorism, India said that since then, London, Mumbai, Paris, many parts of West Asia and Africa had experienced terrorist attacks and the threat of terrorism was universal. It also called for a renewed collective approach to the existing and emerging threats of terrorism, highlighting trends such as the risk of radicalisation through the internet and social media, and terror financing using cryptocurrencies and crowdfunding platforms during the pandemic.
India is set to hold signature events on reformed multilateralism and counter-terrorism to be chaired by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday and Thursday.
India’s assertion that the era of characterising terror attacks on political convenience must end also showcases its call to member states to support multilateral counterterrorism actions at the UNSC level. This is also relevant as India has been upset at China’s successive blocking or withholding consent for its joint requests with the U.S. to list mainly Pakistan-based terror groups and their leaders in the Security Council’s global terror lists, said the concept note circulated by India, underlining that categorising terror acts by intent as religious or ideologically motivated will dilute the shared global commitment to fighting terrorism.
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