At UNGA, Jaishankar says political convenience should not determine responses to terrorism

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar

In what can be termed as a veiled dig at Canada, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in his address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 26 said that political convenience should not determine responses to terrorism, extremism, and violence.

Though Jaishankar avoided directly mentioning Canada, a country with which India has seen tensions rising of late, the minister said that "respect for territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs cannot be exercises in cherry picking. When reality departs from the rhetoric we must have the courage to call it out."

Relations between India and Canada plunged to new lows after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that there was allegedly Indian involvement in the killing of a Khalistani separatist in June. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also called upon India to collaborate with Canada's investigation into the matter.

India has categorically rejected these allegations as absurd. And, in response to the diplomatic tensions, it recently announced the suspension of its visa services in Canada "till further notice." Apart from that, negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between the two countries have also been paused and is likely to only resume once issues at both ends settle down.

Also read: EAM Jaishankar makes case for a more ‘contemporary’ UNSC

Jaishankar touched upon the issue of terrorism and territorial integrity while listing out injustices that should not be allowed to continue, including vaccine apartheid and steering food and energy from needy to wealthy.

The minister also emphasised on the need for a more fair and democratic order to replace one that is mostly dictated by a few nations.

"In our deliberations we often advocate the promotion of a rules-based order. From time to time respect for the UN Charter is also invoked. But for all the talk it is still a few nations who shape the agenda and seek to define the norms. This cannot go on indefinitely and nor will it go challenged," Jaishankar added.

Talking about the recently concluded New Delhi Summit of the Group of 20 Countries, Jaishankar said that India's presidency sought to focus on key concerns of many, and not just the narrow interest of a few.

He further said that the New Delhi Summit affirmed that diplomacy and dialogue is the only effective solution at a time when the polarisation between the east and west is sharp, and the divide between north and south is so deep.

Earlier this month, G20 countries under India's presidency was able to adopt the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration with 100 percent consensus on all developmental and geo-political issues overcoming disagreements on key areas.