On September 27, 2023, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, along with Brazil’s Mauro Vieira and South Africa’s Ronald Lamola, convened in New York to discuss collective efforts against terrorism. They called for unified action against UN-sanctioned terrorists and highlighted the importance of reforms in the UN Security Council to enhance effectiveness and transparency in counter-terrorism efforts. The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to international law and collaboration through the IBSA Dialogue Forum.
In a significant meeting held on September 27, 2023, on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar, together with Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira and South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, emphasized the necessity for a unified approach to combat the threats posed by terrorism on a global scale. The ministers called for decisive action against terrorist organizations and individuals sanctioned by the United Nations, specifically naming Al-Qaeda, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), alongside their affiliates and facilitators. The joint statement issued post-meeting articulated a strong commitment to accelerate collaborative efforts towards the prompt adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the UN framework. Furthermore, the ministers underscored the importance of enhancing counter-terrorism cooperation and reaffirmed the UN Security Council’s exclusive authority in sanctioning designated terrorists. They advocated for urgent reforms to improve the efficacy, responsiveness, and transparency of UN Security Council Sanctions Committees, ensuring that decisions are made on a factual basis rather than politicized interests. Recognizing terrorism as a grave global threat, the ministers condemned all forms of terrorism and stressed the need to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries worldwide. They reaffirmed their commitment to adhering to international law and human rights as they pursue counter-terrorism efforts. Additionally, they called upon the international community to create an inclusive counter-terrorism framework aligned with international legal principles, while acknowledging the shared responsibility of nations to prevent terrorism, including managing the cross-border movement and funding of terrorist entities. This meeting further illustrated the significance of the IBSA (India, Brazil, and South Africa) Dialogue Forum, a coalition conceived in 2003 aimed at fostering collaborative discourse among developing nations on various issues, including counter-terrorism and sustainable development. In a subsequent statement on social media, Minister Jaishankar noted the fruitful discussions that took place and the collective commitment to intensifying consultations on urgent global matters.
The increasing threat of terrorism, encompassing organizations such as Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and various domestic terrorist factions, mandates a concerted global response. In this context, the meeting between ministers from India, Brazil, and South Africa stands as a collaborative effort to address these challenges through the IBSA Dialogue Forum, which supports multilateralism and collective security. The forum serves as a platform for dialogue among countries that share a commitment to democracy, pluralism, and diversity, reflecting their joint interests in battling terrorism while upholding international law.
The meeting of the three foreign ministers marks a pivotal step in fostering international cooperation against terrorism. Their commitment to a united front and the advocacy for an international counter-terrorism framework showcases an essential strategy for addressing the multifaceted threats of terrorism, emphasizing evidence-based responses and the necessity for reform in global governance structures related to security. Such collaborative endeavors highlight the integral role of dialogue and multilateral engagement in achieving sustainable peace and security.
Original Source: www.aninews.in
