India asks Pakistan, Taliban not to provide state hospitality to terrorists

By Shweta Aggarwal In a strong message to Afghanistan’s new rulers and Pakistan, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar asked them not to provide state hospitality to terrorists and urged the to not “take a selective, tactical or complacent view” of terrorism.” Chairing the UN Security Council meeting, Mr Jaishankar invoked Covid-19 virus to make the point that “none of us are safe until all of us are safe.” Groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Haqqani Network continue to operate with impunity and encouragement, Mr Jaishankar said at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on August 19. “It is, therefore, vital that this Council does not take a selective, tactical or complacent view of the problems we face. We must never countenance sanctuaries for terrorists or overlook their raising of resources. And when we see state hospitality being extended to those with innocents blood on their hands, we should never lack the courage to call out their double-speak,” he said. “Let us always remember that what is true of Covid is even more true of terrorism: none of us are safe until all of us are safe,” he added. “I specifically mentioned some of the groups…Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. And I think this is a continuing issue, and we made the point very strongly that it’s important therefore that there are no double standards, there are no distinctions. Terrorism is terrorism,” he said in an interaction with the media in New York. On Afghanistan, the minister underlined that India remains focused on getting back its citizens safely and that the country’s ties with the future regime in Kabul will be guided by its historic ties with the people. “We are working with international partners in this regard, principally the US because they control the airport,” he said. After the briefing, the UNSC issued a statement specifically condemning specific terrorist incidents around the world and the spread of the Islamic State group. It urged member countries “to ensure that all measures undertaken to counter the financing of terrorism comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, international human rights law and international refugee law”.