External Affairs Minister Dr Subramanyam Jaishankar Speech at UN

By R Anil Kumar

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar sent a strongly-worded warning to Pakistan when he addressed the 79^th United Nations General Assembly session in New York on September 28

• Jaishankar condemned Pakistan’s anti-India rhetoric at the UNGA, urging Islamabad to vacate Occupied Kashmir and abandon terrorism to improve relations with India

• Talking about Pakistan’s decades-old policy of terrorism, Mr Jaishankar warned Islamabad that its “actions will most certainly have consequences”.

• “Instills Fanaticism Among Its People”: S. Jaishankar’s “Karma” Swipe at Pakistan

UNITED NATIONS, September 28. A day, after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s anti-India rhetoric at the UNGA, External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar on September 28, launched a scathing attack against Islamabad while addressing the UNGA’s 79^th session. Jaishankar asked Pakistan to vacate Occupied Kashmir and shun terrorism to improve relations with India.

“Many countries get left behind due to circumstances beyond their control but some make conscious choices with disastrous consequences. A premier example is our neighbour Pakistan. Unfortunately, their misdeeds affect others as well, especially the neighbourhood, Jaishankar said in his address.

When this polity instils such fanaticism among its people. Its GDP can only be measured in terms of radicalisation and its exports in the form of terrorism.

Today, we see the ills it sought to visit on others consume its own society. It can’t blame the world. This is only karma. A dysfunctional nation coveting the lands of others must be exposed and must be countered,” said Jaishankar.

Mr Jaishankar, who spoke about the ‘Pakistan problem’ towards the end of his nearly-twenty-minute speech, made it clear to Islamabad that “Pakistan’s policy of cross-border terrorism can and will never succeed”.

Pakistan, which has been facing its worst economic crises since its formation in 1947, has been left behind because of its “conscious choices with disastrous consequences”, the External Affairs Minister said.

Highlighting the impact of Islamabad’s terror policies, Mr Jaishankar said “When this (terror) polity instils such fanaticism among its people, its GDP can only be measured in terms of radicalisation and its exports in the form of terrorism.”

Taking a swipe at Pakistan’s fate due to its policy of radicalising its citizens, especially the youth, the foreign minister said, “Today, we see the ills it sought to visit on others consume its own society. It can’t blame the world; this is only karma,” he said.

The foreign minister further said that “A dysfunctional nation coveting the lands of others must be exposed and must be countered. We heard some bizarre assertions from it at this forum yesterday, September 27. So let me make India’s position perfectly clear.”

Condemning terrorism, Jaishankar called for all its forms and “manifestations” to be opposed. “Terrorism is antithetical of everything that the world stands for. All its forms and manifestations must be resolutely opposed. The sanctioning of global terrorists by the United Nations should also not be impeded for political reasons,” the minister added.

“If we are to ensure global security and stability, then it is essential that those who seek to lead, set the right example. Nor can we countenance egregious violations of our basic tenets,” Jaishankar added.

Urging the global community to respect international law, Jaishankar said, “The UN is a testimony to the agreed principles and shared objectives of the world order. Respect for international law and commitments are among the foremost in that regard.” “An important cause of many getting left behind has been the unfairness of the current globalization model. Over-concentration of production has hollowed out many economies, impacting their employment and social stability,” the EAM said.

Jaishankar underlined the need for building resilient supply chains, ensuring trusted digital services among others. ”Democratizing global production, building resilient supply chains, ensuring trusted digital services, and espousing an open-source culture, all these promote widespread prosperity. There are economic answers, just as there are social ones,” he said.

Reacting to the ongoing wars, he said, “The world is yet to recover from the ravages of covid pandemic. A war in Ukraine is well into its third year and the conflict in Gaza is acquiring wider ramifications.”

Particularly referring to the ongoing Ukraine war and the escalated conflict in Gaza, Jaishankar said, “Whether it is the war in Ukraine or the conflict in Gaza, the international community seeks urgent solutions. These sentiments must be acknowledged and acted upon.”

“In truth, the world stands fractious, polarized and frustrated. Conversations have become difficult; agreements even more so. This is surely not what the founders of the United Nations would have wanted of us,” Jaishankar said.

“The urgency of this call is highlighted by the theme of this Session. Leaving no one behind means advancing peace, ensuring sustainable development and strengthening human dignity. This cannot be delivered by a UN paralyzed when faced with division, conflict, terrorism and violence,” he added.

On India, Jaishankar stated that, “Assured access to piped water, to electricity, to cooking gas and new homes are changing millions of lives. The gender gap has started to close, be it in health, in education or in the work place. Our food producers, thrice a year, get financial support at the click of a button.”