External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has stated that India has a neighbour that is an epicentre of global terrorism and it has confronted the challenge of terrorism since independence.

In his address at the general debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Dr Jaishankar underlined that for decades now, major international terrorist attacks are traced back to that one country. He further stated that UN’s designated lists of terrorists are replete with its nationals.

He gave the example of the murder of innocent tourists in Pahalgam in April this year. He said India exercised its right to defend its people against terrorism and brought its organizers and perpetrators to justice.

The External Affairs Minister said that it is essential that there is much deeper international cooperation because terrorism is a shared threat.

Dr Jaishankar also stated that an objective report card will show that the UN is in a state of crisis. He said resistance to reform has been central to the erosion of UN’s credibility.

He called for the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent membership of the Council. He said that a reformed Council must be truly representative and India stands ready to assume greater responsibilities.

Dr Jaishankar said the world is now seeing tariff volatility and uncertain market access. He emphasised that de-risking is a growing compulsion now, whether from limited sources of supply or over-dependence on a particular market.

He pointed out that energy and food security have been the first casualties of conflict and disruption, especially since 2022. He said better-off societies insulated themselves by having the first call and resource-stressed ones scrambled to survive, only to hear sanctimonious lectures.

Dr Jaishankar said India will always maintain its freedom of choice and will always be a voice of the Global South. He said that the nation remains determined to protect its people and secure their interests at home and abroad.

He highlighted the three key concepts of ‘Atmanirbharta’ or self-reliance, ‘Atmaraksha’ or securing oneself and ‘Atmavishwas’ or self-confidence that guide India’s approach in the contemporary world.