Mincing no words about his anguish over the lack of adequate efforts to counter international terrorism, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) “has regrettably been unable to act in some cases because of political considerations”, a fact “undermined” the member-nations’ collective credibility and collective interests.
In his inaugural address at an informal briefing of the Counter Terrorism Committee of the UNSC on combating terrorism financing in local and regional contexts here, Jaishankar said, “In another month, we will be observing the 14th anniversary of these ghastly attacks on Mumbai in November 2008. While one of the terrorists was captured alive, prosecuted, and convicted by the highest court in India, the key conspirators and planners of the 26/11 attacks continue to remain protected and unpunished.”
“When it comes to proscribing some of these terrorists, the Security Council has regrettably been unable to act in some cases because of political considerations. This undermines our collective credibility and our collective interests,” the Indian Foreign Minister said.
Speaking in the presence of UNSC’s President Michael Moussa Adamo, who is also the Foreign Minister of Gabon, UN Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism Vladimir Voronkov and others, Jaishankar quoted the UN Secretary General as saying, “Terrorism is pure evil, one with which we can never compromise”, to drive home his point that international terrorism had to be countered sternly. Terrorism may have plagued several regions of the world. We, in India, understand its cost more than others. But with that experience comes the steeling of national resolve. Decades of cross-border terror has not and will not weaken our commitment to fight back,” the Indian External Affairs Minister said.
“Our real tribute to the victims will be to rededicate ourselves to combating and eliminating the menace of terrorism. We will have to do this through stronger determination and joint action. We must rise above our political differences to address this scourge,” he said.
“The battle against terrorism must be fought resolutely at all fronts, all situations and all places. We cannot be found wanting in our efforts. As the UN Secretary General stated, “Terrorism is pure evil, one with which we can never compromise’,” the Indian Foreign Minister said.
Contending that a key aspect of combating terrorism was to effectively curb terror financing, Jaishankar said, “We all know that money is the lifeblood of terrorism. Terrorist organisations require funds and resources to maintain their organisational functions and undertake activities. The reality that terrorism continues to exist and expand points to an underlying truth: that terrorism continues to get the necessary financial resources to thrive.”
Maintaining that effective and sustained efforts at countering terror financing was at the heart of the issue of countering terrorism, he said: “Normative efforts at the UN need to be coordinated through collaboration with other fora like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Egmont Group”
“We need to ensure the effective and transparent functioning of the Security Council sanctions regime and make sure that they are not rendered ineffective for political reasons. Objective and evidence based proposals for listing of terrorist groups, especially those that curb their access to financial resources must be seen through.”
Incidentally, the venue of Friday’s meeting was Hotel Taj Mahal Palace, which was one of the sites targeted in the 26/11 terror attacks.
Apart from the UNSC’s president Michael Moussa Adamo who is also the Foreign Minister of Gabon, UN Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism Vladimir Voronkov, Jaishankar, the others who were present at Friday’s meeting were: India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ruchira Kamboj, Ministers, heads of delegations of the UNSC Member-States and civil society stakeholders from across the world.
Jaishankar recalled that fourteen years ago, “on 26 November 2008, the city of Mumbai was witness to one of the most shocking terror attacks of our times. 140 Indian nationals and 26 citizens of 23 other countries lost their lives in a period of 4 days. In fact, this entire city was held hostage by terrorists who had entered from across the border”.
The Indian Foreign Minister averred that if much worse was averted, it was only because they ran into the collective resolve of Indian security forces, brave civilians and the security and staff of this very Taj Hotel. “All of them fought back valiantly in their own ways to ensure that the forces of evil were finally defeated. 18 members of the Indian police forces, 12 members of the Taj Hotel Staff and security were martyred in the line of duty,” he said, as he joined others present in paying tribute to them at this 26/11 memorial site for their valour and resolve.
“We all recall that the victims included ordinary Mumbaikars going about their daily lives at the Chhatrapati Maharaj Terminus Railway Station; the patients, doctors, and nursing staff at the Cama Hospital; the guests and staff of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, of Café Leopold and the Oberoi Trident Hotel; the Chabad house, where Baby Moshe’s parents were killed; and innocent bystanders on the streets,” he said.
Jaishankar pointed out that the 26/11 attack `was not just an attack on Mumbai, but an attack on the international community’. “Nationals of specific countries were identified before being murdered. As a result, the commitment of each and every member state of the UN to combat terrorism stood publicly challenged,” he said.
“Since then, we have endeavoured to bring the masterminds and perpetrators of this attack to justice. This task remains unfinished. Therefore, the coming together of the UNSC’s Counter Terrorism Committee to this venue is both special and significant,” he added.
In one of the five suggestions that he made to the UNSC’s Counter Terrorism Committee, Jaishankar said, “International cooperation and concerted action against terrorists and their sponsors, including through dismantlement of terrorist safe havens, sanctuaries, training grounds and financial and ideological as well as political support structures, are critical imperatives to defeat this scourge.”
He said terrorism’s nexus with transnational organised crime, illicit drugs and arms trafficking was now well established. “It is important that we recognise these linkages and strengthen multilateral efforts to break them,” he said.
Looking forward to the committee’s meeting to be held in New Delhi on Saturday to provide innovative solutions to tackle terror financing, Jaishankar said, “Over the years, terrorist groups have diversified their funding portfolio. They have also begun to exploit the anonymity afforded by new and emerging technologies such as virtual currencies for fundraising and finances. In this regard, we look forward to the deliberations at the Special Meeting of the Committee tomorrow in New Delhi to provide innovative solutions for the international community.”
“I thank all members of the Security Council and other Member States who have joined us today in an expression of solidarity. Together, we should send out the message that the international community will never give up on holding terrorists accountable and delivering justice. 26/11 will never ever be forgotten,” the Indian Foreign Minister said.