External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday indirectly attacked both China and Pakistan while talking about connectivity and terrorism. She was speaking at the annual Raisina Dialogue, organised by Ministry of External Affairs and the Observer Research Foundation.
Terming terrorism as the mother of all disruptions, Swaraj said terrorism from governed spaces and actively supported and sponsored by States is a dangerous trend.
“What is even more dangerous is terrorism from governed spaces; in fact, terrorism actively supported and sponsored by States. To expect that an activity which draws on all the ills of the world — fanaticism, crime, bloodshed and illegal trade — will not have a corrosive impact beyond its intended arena is unrealistic. Nor will it spare its originators and practitioners. Ensuring zero-tolerance towards terrorism is the call of the day.”
Without naming Pakistan, she went on to add, “The message is particularly to those who continue to believe that it can be an instrument of convenience.”
Sushma said there is a realisation among countries that terrorism anywhere can threaten societies everywhere and time has gone when it was seen as a problem of a particular country. “There was a time when it was seen as other people’s problem or a law and order situation. Not just that, it was also actively utilised as an instrument of statecraft. That time has long gone by. We are all now very clear that terrorism anywhere can threaten societies everywhere. The challenge is even more serious in a digital age, with greater propensity to radicalisation,” Swaraj said.
The Minister mentioned the threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as another issue of concern. “Many contemporary developments have their roots in longstanding proliferation linkages that the world deliberately chose to overlook. like terrorism, nuclear proliferation cannot be addressed effectively in a segmented manner. Fuller disclosure and greater accountability are a must,” she said.
Talking about the connectivity issue, Swaraj hinted towards China about the need for respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. India has not joined China’s ambitious Belt Road Initiative as a part of it passes through Gilgit Baltistan in Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
“In a globalised economy, it is important that the building of connectivity is a consultative process. Not just consultative but also one based on norms of transparency, good governance, commercial viability, fiscal responsibility and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity,” she said.
Sushma added that while connectivity is largely a matter of national decision making, even though it has international ramifications, a related concern is the safety and security of the global commons. “More so than any other domain, it has been impacted by a shifting sense of responsibility towards global governance. The maritime world is experiencing this particularly sharply,” she said.