I thank Mr. Moradian for his briefing. I shall now make a statement in
my capacity as the Minister of External Affairs of India.
Let me begin by thanking Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, USG UNOCT and Ms.
Michele Coninsx, Executive Director CTED for their briefings on the
13th report of the Secretary General on the threat posed by ISIL
(Da’esh) to international peace and security. I of course repeat my
thanks to Mr. Moradian, Director General of the Afghan Institute for
Strategic Studies, for joining us remotely today.
Excellencies, the world will be commemorating the 4thInternational Day
of Remembrance and Tribute to Victims of Terrorism day after tomorrow.
Next month, it will be 20 years since the horrific 9/11 tragedy in New
York. We, in India, have of course had more than our fair share of
challenges and casualties. The 2008 Mumbai terror attack is imprinted
in our memories. The 2016 Pathankot air base attack and the 2019
suicide bombing of our policemen at Pulwama are even more recent. Let
me, therefore, express my solidarity with the victims and their
families all over the world who have suffered, and continue to suffer,
from the scourge of terrorism. We must never compromise with this evil.
The international community holds a collective view that terrorism in
all its forms and manifestations must be condemned. There cannot be any
exception or any justification for any act of terrorism, regardless of
motivations behind such acts. We also recognize that the menace of
terrorism cannot be and should not be associated with any religion,
nationality, civilization or any ethnic group. However, in spite of the
progress we have made to tighten the legal, security, financing and
other frameworks to combat terrorism, terrorists are constantly finding
newer ways of motivating, resourcing and executing acts of terror.
Unfortunately, there are also some countries who seek to undermine or
subvert our collective resolve to fight terrorism. That cannot be
allowed to pass.
The latest report of the Secretary General has provided another stark
reminder to all of us that ISIL (Daesh) continues to pose a critical
threat to international peace and security. ISIL (Daesh) remains active
in Syria and Iraq and its affiliates are growing in strength,
particularly as we heard from briefers, in Africa. The financial
resource mobilization of ISIL (Daesh) has become more robust. The flow
of funds has continued and rewards for killings I believe are now even
being paid in Bitcoins! The radicalization of vulnerable youth by
systematic online propaganda campaigns remains a serious concern.
In our own immediate neighborhood, ISIL-Khorasan (ISIL-K) has become
more energetic and is constantly seeking to expand its footprint. This
should be taken seriously. Events unfolding in Afghanistan have
naturally enhanced global concerns about their implications for both
regional and international security. The heightened activities of the
proscribed Haqqani Network justifies this growing anxiety. Whether it
is in Afghanistan or against India, groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba and
Jaish-e-Mohammed continue to operate with both impunity and
encouragement. It is, therefore, vital that this Council does not take
a selective, tactical or even a complacent view of the problems we
face. We must never countenance sanctuaries for terrorists or overlook
the raising of their 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 this double-speak. We heard from the
briefers of the aggravating attack of the pandemic. What is true of
Covid is even more true of terrorism: none of us are safe until all of
us are safe.
Insofar as ISIL is concerned, its modus operandi has changed, with the
core focusing on regaining ground in Syria and Iraq and affiliates
functioning independently. This evolving phenomenon is extremely
dangerous and poses a new set of challenges to our collective efforts
in our fight against ISIL and terrorism.
In January 2021, when I had an opportunity to address this Council
virtually at that time, I had proposed an eight-point action plan for
consideration. Let me reiterate some its cardinal principles:
· Summon the political will: don’t justify terrorism, don’t glorify
terrorists,
· No double standards. Terrorists are terrorists; distinctions are made
only at our own peril,
· Don’t place blocks and holds on listing requests without any reason,
· Discourage exclusivist thinking and be on guard against new
terminologies and false priorities,
· Enlist and delist objectively, not on political or religious
considerations,
· Recognize the linkage to organized crime,
· Support and strengthen the FATF, and
· Provide greater funding to the UN Office of Counter Terrorism.
I call on this Council to collectively build on these principles. It is
also important therefore to end the stalemate preventing the adoption
of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, which India
has championed for so long.
India has been at the forefront of global counter terrorism efforts,
has taken part in all major global initiatives against international
terrorism and is party to all United Nations’ sectoral conventions
relating to terrorism. We were pleased to play our role in
strengthening the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy adopted last month.
We reiterate our full support for counter terrorism cooperation under
the auspices of the UN. I thank you.
I resume my functions as President of the Council. I now give the floor
to the Council members.
