PolicyForeign affairs
Terrorism as statecraft 'simply unacceptable', Jaishankar says, and presses for a reformed UN
Speaking at the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan in New Delhi, the External Affairs Minister said terror survives because not all states show zero tolerance, and warned against a world 'half prosperous and half denied'.
Key points
- Jaishankar said terrorism can never be justified or rationalised.
- He said it persists because not all states display zero tolerance.
- He called for reformed multilateralism and said the UN must lead, not watch.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Sunday that the use of terrorism as a tool of state policy was “simply unacceptable”, and that the menace survives because some governments look the other way.
“Terrorism is another deadly threat to peace. Its usage as an instrument of statecraft is simply unacceptable,” he told the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. “It can never be justified. It can never be rationalised. Yet, it continues because not all states really display zero tolerance.”
He did not name any country. “Despite history holding so many lessons, some still allow political calculations to take precedence,” he said, adding that the world “must therefore develop sharper awareness about this common threat”.
The gathering, on the theme of “Non-Dualism for World Understanding”, was held a day after UN Day, and Jaishankar used it to return to India’s long-running demand for an overhaul of the world body. Its shortcomings had to be recognised and addressed, he said. “The UN must show leadership, not be a spectator to global crises,” he said. “Large parts of the world cannot be left out from decision-making.”
He tied peace to shared growth. “Progress and prosperity are the flip side of conflict and violence, and they too are equally indivisible,” he said. “The world cannot advance half prosperous and half denied in an era of intricate supply chains. This is simply a prescription for continuous instability.”
The remarks came a day after India condemned Friday’s attack on a church in Karak, Jordan, as heinous and cowardly. Jaishankar had posted his condolences to the families of those killed.