Must end ecosystem of support to terror: Sushma in New York

NEW YORK: It is necessary that we eliminate the scourge of terrorism in all its forms, without any discrimination, and end the ecosystem of its support

SUSHMA SWARAJ,

Minister of external affairs

In a veiled attack on Pakistan, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday told a meeting of the SAARC foreign ministers that the scourge of terrorism remains the single largest threat to peace and stability in the South Asian region and it is necessary to eliminate the ecosystem of its support.

Addressing a meeting, also attended by her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Swaraj emphasised that regional cooperation can only be successful if it meets the expectations of the people.

The meeting, chaired by foreign minister of Nepal Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, was held on the margins of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly and attended by foreign ministers of the SAARC bloc.

“An environment of peace and security is essential for regional cooperation to progress and achieve economic development and prosperity of our people. The number of threats and incidents that endanger South Asia are on the rise,” Swaraj said in her statement at the informal meeting of the SAARC Council of Ministers on Thursday.

“It is necessary that we eliminate the scourge of terrorism in all its forms, without any discrimination, and end the ecosystem of its support,” she said.

Swaraj stressed that meetings, including high-level ones, can only be effective if expressions of resolve are translated into concrete action on the ground.

India had boycotted the 2016 SAARC summit citing Islamabad’s unrelenting support to terrorist activities in India.