‘Serial practitioner of terrorism’: Jaishankar tears into Pakistan at UN after Shehbaz Sharif raises Kashmir - The Indian Express

A day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif raked up the issue of Kashmir and described India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty as an “act of war”, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, referring to Pakistan as “a serial practitioner of terrorism”, told the United Nations General Assembly Saturday that attempts to “normalise terrorism and claim immunity from its consequences” will not stand and India will exercise its right to defend itself.

He also called out “weaponisation of everything” in a world roiled by conflicts — from chokepoints to constricting market access — and flagged the “mindset of extreme competition” that is “undermining institutions”.

In a strong rebuttal to Sharif’s remarks from the UNGA podium, Jaishankar, without naming him, said, “Yesterday, a serial practitioner of terrorism misrepresented facts before this assembly. Arguments were invoked to normalise terrorism and claim immunity from its consequences. That will not stand.”

#WATCH | New York: Addressing the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar says, “A persistent threat to peace has been the scourge of terrorism. That this could be state-sponsored, with cross-border purpose, makes it a direct affront to the… pic.twitter.com/9MS2KwFRjj

“A persistent threat to peace has been the scourge of terrorism. That this could be state-sponsored with cross-border purpose makes it a direct affront to the global order. Governments indulging in such practices must be held accountable,” he said.

The international community, he said, must hold such states accountable. “There must be no dilution in our zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism. Its financial aspects, in particular, should be exposed and should be countered,” he said.

“Our right to defend ourselves against terrorism will be exercised… Friendship and goodwill cannot coexist with terrorism. And understandings premised on that will naturally be called into question,” he said, underlining “it is for the perpetrator of terrorism to mend its ways”.

Jaishankar, who began his address with a ‘Namaskar from 1.4 billion people of Bharat’, said “conflicts and confrontations remain the primary preoccupation” of the world at this time.

“The inability to maintain peace is not just undermining security but threatening progress and retarding development,” he said, adding that the effects of war are felt worldwide in a globalised world.

“Countries far from conflicts are being penalised for no fault of theirs. Those most impacted often have the least say,” he said, referring to the West Asia war, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and also the Israel-Gaza conflict, emphasising on a two-state solution.

#WATCH | New York: Addressing the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar says, “New challenges in the maritime domain have added to longstanding ones on land. There have been attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers in the Gulf, and from… pic.twitter.com/b5XUCAHR6e

“Let us recognise that peace is not just the absence of war; if the world is subjected to continuous threats and pressures, then we are really living on the edge of an abyss,” he said. “All it takes is one more step to push us over.”

Calling for strengthening stability, security and predictability, he said “if any of them are undermined, peace will inevitably be weakened.”

“What we are actually seeing is a weaponization of everything. A mindset of extreme competition has set in, undermining institutions and establishing chokepoints. It extends from the world of finance to constricting market access, disrupting supply chains and withholding technology. Resources and connectivity have become particularly subject to leverage,” he said.

Just two days ago, Jaishankar had flagged India’s concerns over the new US law to punish Russia’s energy buyers. The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which has been signed into law by President Donald Trump, authorises the US to impose up to 100 per cent tariffs on Russian energy purchases including India and China. India depends on imports to meet over 88 per cent of its crude oil needs, and Russia currently accounts for nearly half of these imports.

He said that as a result of such measures, “nations are now more focused on de-risking and diversifying”. The predicament of the Global South is particularly acute, he said, adding that the countries in the region face a 4F crisis — the security of food, fuel, fertiliser and finance.

He also called the targeting of commercial shipping as “unacceptable” — India has lost over 10 of its seafarers owing to attacks from various sides in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea.

“The targeting of commercial shipping and sea ferries transiting international waterways is simply unacceptable. India calls upon all parties to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, ensure protection of civilians and uninterrupted flow of energy and commerce,” he said.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, endless war must give way now to an end to war, Jaishankar said, adding that India supports ongoing initiatives to bring peace. “India is prepared to do everything possible to ameliorate this situation, especially with regard to food and energy security,” he said.

He wrapped up his speech by quoting Mahatma Gandhi. “In the lawns outside this building are recorded the powerful words of Mahatma Gandhi, and that should serve as an inspiration for these times. And those words are, ‘there is no way to peace, peace is the way’,” he said.

Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ... Read More