New York: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said India’s “zero-tolerance” policy towards terrorism would continue, stressing that any government involved in cross-border terrorism would have to be held accountable.
Addressing the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Jaishankar said terrorism remained a challenge for the entire world.
He said India would exercise its right to self-defence against terrorism and asserted that terrorism and friendship or goodwill could not go together. Those involved in spreading terrorism, he said, would have to change their approach.
Conflict and confrontation remain major concerns
Jaishankar said conflict and confrontation continued to be among the biggest concerns facing the world. The inability to maintain peace was not only weakening security but also posing a threat to progress, he said, adding that its impact could be seen across the world.
Attacks on ships unacceptable
Referring to an ongoing conflict in the Gulf region, Jaishankar said the situation had become more serious amid the existing tensions.
“We are deeply concerned about this ongoing conflict,” he said, adding that targeting ships and seafarers travelling through international waterways was completely unacceptable.
Jaishankar said India was prepared to make every possible effort to improve the situation, particularly in the areas of food and energy security.
He also stressed that peace meant more than merely the absence of war. If the world continued to face threats and pressure, he said, humanity would effectively be standing on the edge of a precipice.
