“Attacks on cargo ships and sailors are unacceptable,” said Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar.
He, who is participating on behalf of India in the 81st session of the UN General Assembly being held in New York, USA, delivered a speech on Saturday.
He said: The conflicts taking place in the Gulf region have further intensified the difficult conditions prevailing there. Not only in the Gulf region, but also in the Red Sea and the Black Sea, Indian sailors have lost their lives in severe attacks on cargo ships and sailors from India and other countries traveling around those regions. India will never accept such attacks. It is worrying that the Ukraine war is nearing its fifth year. I would like to recall here what Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: the endless war must now give way to an end to the war.
BRICS in support of the U.N.: Thinking of choosing one between the U.N. and the BRICS grouping is the wrong approach. Despite many shortcomings, there is no substitute for the U.N. Although it is a historic organization that has achieved many things, if reforms are to be carried out in it, it is only natural to focus on removing its shortcomings. For that reason, the U.N. cannot be completely rejected.
BRICS, G7, or any other alliances are formed by countries with shared views coming together. In the joint declaration issued at the BRICS summit held in India on Sept. 12 and 13, we noted the importance of the UN General Assembly as the central point of the international system.
The BRICS grouping wants to support the UN and carry out timely reforms in it. Many more countries have expressed interest in joining the BRICS grouping.
War affects everyone: Since 1945, the world has seen many new changes. Resolving problems, moving forward in harmony, and accepting one another will not be as easy as before. These very difficulties are the cause of most of the problems that arise today.
In a diverse world, maintaining peace requires proper dialogue, consultations, and transparent decisions. The voice for pluralism is growing stronger day by day.
The UN has been functioning for 90 years with international peace and security at its core. But every time we meet, wars and conflicts have remained the focal point of our discussions. In the modern era, not only the countries involved in wars but also other countries are affected by their impact. The countries that are most affected speak the least. This is the reality. The UN must confront this.
Weaponization of everything: The world is witnessing the weaponization of everything. An intensely competitive mindset is destroying international and regional institutions and creating a crisis-ridden situation.
When we see such pressure and threats, the truth is that we are living on the edge of a precipice. Even a slight slip can cause severe damage.
Therefore, it is imperative to maintain factors such as stability and security. If any one of these is weakened, peace efforts will lose their strength.
Right to self-defense against terrorism: Earlier in this House, a person continuously involved in terrorist acts (referring to Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif) spoke while providing various false pieces of information.
It is no longer possible to continue normalizing terrorism and pleading for exemption from the consequences that arise from it. India has the right to take defensive measures against terrorism. Friendship and goodwill cannot go hand in hand with terrorism, he said.