India exercised its Right of Reply in the UN General Assembly on Friday in response to Sharif raising the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in his UNGA address.
JK News Today
New Delhi, Sep 29: Maintaining that Pakistan’s GDP can only be measured in terms of “radicalization” and its exports in the form of “terrorism”, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Saturday that Pakistan’s cross-border terrorism policy will “never succeed”, can have no expectation of impunity and “actions will certainly have consequences”.
Speaking at the 79th UN General Assembly, Jaishankar said, “Terrorism is antithetical to everything that the world stands for. All its forms and manifestations must be resolutely opposed. The sanctioning of global terrorists by the United Nations should also not be impeded for political reasons.”
“Many countries get left behind due to circumstances beyond their control. But some make conscious choices with disastrous consequences. A premier example is our neighbour, Pakistan. Unfortunately, their misdeeds affect others as well, especially the neighbourhood. When this polity instils such fanaticism among its people, its GDP can only be measured in terms of radicalization and its exports in the form of terrorism. Today, we see the ills it sought to visit on others consume its own society. It can’t blame the world; this is only karma,” he said.
“A dysfunctional nation coveting the lands of others must be exposed and must be countered. We heard some bizarre assertions from it at this forum yesterday,” he said, while referring to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s reference to the abrogation of Article 370.
In his speech Friday, Sharif spoke at length about Kashmir saying that “similarly, like the people of Palestine, the people of Jammu and Kashmir too, have struggled for a century for their freedom and right to self determination”. Referring to India’s decision to abrogate Article 370, Sharif had said to secure durable peace, “India must reverse the unilateral and illegal measures” of August 2019 and “enter into a dialogue for a peaceful resolution” of the Jammu and Kashmir issue in accordance with the UN Security resolutions and “the wishes of the Kashmiri people”.
Jaishankar said, “So let me make India’s position perfectly clear. Pakistan’s cross-border terrorism policy will never succeed. And it can have no expectation of impunity. On the contrary, actions will certainly have consequences. The issue to be resolved between us is now only the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan. And of course, the abandonment of Pakistan’s long standing attachment to terrorism.”
Without naming China, Jaishankar said that the sanctioning of global terrorists by the United Nations should also “not be impeded for political reasons” – an oblique reference to Beijing’s blocking of listing Pakistan-based terrorists at the UN.
He also took on China on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and its debt-trap diplomacy when he said, “Unfair trade practices threaten jobs, just as unviable projects raise debt levels. Any connectivity that flouts sovereignty and territorial integrity acquires strategic connotations. Especially when it is not a shared endeavour.”
In his 17-minute speech, the External Affairs Minister framed the challenges of 2024: “We are gathered here at a difficult time. The world is yet to recover from the ravages of the Covid pandemic. A war in Ukraine is well into its third year. The conflict in Gaza is acquiring wider ramifications.”
“In truth, the world stands fractious, polarized and frustrated. Conversations have become difficult; agreements even more so. This is surely not what the founders of the United Nations would have wanted of us….If the world is in such a state, this body must ask itself: how has this come to pass? The problems arise from a combination of structural shortcomings, political calculations, naked self-interest and yes, disregard for those left behind,” he told the 79th UNGA.
Recalling the debates during the inception of the UN, he said, “The debates of that era centred around how to ensure world peace, a prerequisite for global prosperity. Today, we find both peace and prosperity equally endangered. And that is because trust has eroded and processes have broken down. Countries have extracted more from the international system than they have put into it, enfeebling it in the process. We see that vividly in every challenge and every crisis. Reforming multilateralism is, therefore, an imperative.”
“The urgency of this call is highlighted by the theme of this Session. Leaving no one behind means advancing peace, ensuring sustainable development and strengthening human dignity. This cannot be delivered by a UN paralyzed when faced with division, conflict, terrorism and violence. Nor can it be advanced if access to food, fuel and fertilizer is jeopardized,” he said.
Seeking to provide a solution to the current global situation, he said, “The world cannot be fatalistic about the continuation of violence on a large scale, no more than be impervious to its broader consequences. Whether it is the war in Ukraine or the conflict in Gaza, the international community seeks urgent solutions. These sentiments must be acknowledged and acted upon.”
And, he underlined the respect for international law especially by permanent members of the UN Security Council – China and Russia – without naming them: “The UN is a testimony to the agreed principles and shared objectives of the world order. Respect for international law and commitments are among the foremost in that regard. If we are to ensure global security and stability, then it is essential that those who seek to lead, set the right example. Nor can we countenance egregious violations of our basic tenets.”
“But every change must begin somewhere. And there is no better place than where it all started. We, the members of the United Nations, must now seriously and purposefully address ourselves to that task. Not because it is a competition for influence or squabble for positions. But because, if we carry on like this, the state of the world is only going to get worse. And that could mean that more of us are going to be left behind,” he said.
Jaishankar also flagged the challenges posed by Beijing’s economic strategy, as he said, “An important cause of many getting left behind has been the unfairness of the current globalization model. Over-concentration of production has hollowed out many economies, impacting their employment and social stability. Democratizing global production, building resilient supply chains, ensuring trusted digital services, and espousing an open-source culture, all these promote widespread prosperity. There are economic answers, just as there are social ones.”
And he tried to convey that India’s experiences offer answers to global challenges: “As the world contemplates these concerns, India has sought to respond in a variety of ways.”
He talked about focus on the vulnerable, women, farmers and youth; expanding opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship; and digital public infrastructure and a people’s pharmacy as examples of what India can readily offer to the world.
“It is also an alternative vision where technology is used to empower, not to dominate,” he said, adding that the Global South is being encouraged to voice shared concerns and disaster relief is being given.
Elaborating on “India’s experience and India’s relevance”, he said, “Such leapfrogging possibilities, coupled with people-centric policies and visionary leadership, can be real game changers. When India lands on the Moon, rolls out its own 5G stack, dispatches vaccines worldwide, embraces fintech or houses so many Global Capability Centres, there is a message here. Our quest for a ‘Viksit Bharat’ or developed India will understandably be followed closely.”
And, he underlined the need for reform of the UN. “The global order is inherently pluralistic and diverse. The UN began with 51 members; we are now 193. The world has changed profoundly and so have its concerns and opportunities. But to address both and indeed to strengthen the order itself, it is essential that the UN be the central platform for finding common ground. And that it certainly cannot be, by remaining anachronistic. Large parts of the world cannot be left behind when it comes to deciding the key issues of our times. An effective and efficient UN, a more representative UN and a UN fit for purpose in the contemporary era, is essential.”
