India highlights role of Pak terror groups in Af at UNSC
WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI: Groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Haqqani Network continue to operate with impunity and encouragement, India said at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday, urging countries to not “take a selective, tactical or complacent view” of terrorism and calling out countries that undermine the global fight against terrorism.
Members were gathered to discuss threats to international peace and security by terrorism and the meeting was held under India’s current presidency of the UNSC. External affairs minister S Jaishankar, who chaired the meeting, did not name any country but targeted those that provided sanctuaries and extended hospitality to such groups.
“It is, therefore, vital that this Council does not take a selective, tactical or complacent view of the problems we face. We must never countenance sanctuaries for terrorists or overlook their raising of resources. And when we see state hospitality being extended to those with innocents blood on their hands, we should never lack the courage to call out their double-speak,” he said.
“Let us always remember that what is true of Covid is even more true of terrorism: none of us are safe until all of us are safe,” he added.
This was the third signature event organised by India while holding the rotating presidency of the UN’s top body for August.
Other Security Council members joined India’s call for a zero tolerance approach towards all forms of terrorism, and most of the countries, including the US, the UK and China, called for holding the Taliban accountable to its commitment to not allow Afghan soil to be used any terrorist groups.
At a media stakeout following the briefing, Jaishankar said both India and Afghanistan have been affected by cross-border terrorism. “I specifically mentioned some of the groups... Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. And I think this is a continuing issue, and we made the point very strongly that it’s important therefore that there are no double standards, there are no distinctions. Terrorism is terrorism,” he said.
On Afghanistan, the minister reiterated what he said on Wednesday that India, like other countries, was focused on getting back its citizens safely and that the country’s ties with the future dispensation in Kabul will be guided by its historic ties with the people. “We are working with international partners in this regard, principally the US because they control the airport,” he said.
After the briefing, the UNSC issued a statement specifically condemning specific terrorist incidents around the world and the spread of the Islamic State group.
It urged member countries “to ensure that all measures undertaken to counter the financing of terrorism comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, international human rights law and international refugee law”.