In a thinly-veiled reference to Pakistan against the backdrop of its well-chronicled nuclear proliferation nexus with North Korea in recent years, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has made a strong push for investigations to hold those involved in such nefarious linkages accountable.
Sushma highlighted the issue at a key trilateral ministerial meeting on Monday with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly Session.
She also had a meeting with US President Donald Trump’s daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump, who called on her. Ivanka is slated to lead the US delegation to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit being held in Hyderabad in November.
“I have long respected India’s accomplished and charismatic Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, and it was an honour to meet her today,” Ivanka tweeted, adding, “We had a great discussion on women’s entrepreneurship, the upcoming #GES2017 and workforce development in the US and India.”
A Press release put out by the External Affairs Ministry said Sushma “deplored Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s (North Korea) recent actions and stated that its proliferation linkages must be explored and those involved be held accountable.”
Although the release did not explicitly name Pakistan, Ministry Spokesman Raveesh Kumar, responding to questions from reporters, pointedly stated, “I think I am giving you enough material to try to figure out what we are talking about.”
“We have very clearly mentioned that we not only deplore DPRK’s recent actions but also stated that its proliferation linkages must be explored and those involved be held accountable,” Kumar said, in an obvious reference to Pyongyang’s latest round of daring missile tests, and the revelations years ago of Islamabad’s proliferation linkage with it under the stewardship of AQ Khan, father of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme.
Sushma’s comment came on a day when Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi arrived in New York to attend the UNGA Session, where he is widely expected to raise the Kashmir issue — just as every Pakistani military ruler or elected leader has been doing year after year without fail.
Apart from the dangers posed by the North Korean tests, the trilateral meeting also exchanged views on maritime security and connectivity with the Foreign Ministers of India, Japan and the United States emphasising the need for “ensuring freedom of navigation, respect for international law and peaceful resolution of disputes.”
The deliberations assume significance against the backdrop of the recent Doklam crisis in Sikkim, triggered by China’s assertive move to build a road in the border area. likewise, Beijing also has been claiming sovereignty over all of South China Sea.
“On connectivity initiatives, the importance of basing them on universally recognised international norms, prudent financing and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity was underlined,” the External Affairs Ministry spokesman said in his brief statement, adding, “The three Ministers directed their senior officials to explore practical steps to enhance cooperation.”
Sushma held separate meetings with Foreign Ministers of five other countries — Tunisia, Bahrain, latvia, the United Arab Emirates and Denmark. Her focus was said to be broadly on bilateral cooperation as part of the push for India’s development agenda.