NEW DELHI, October 26 (Aalimi Nation) – External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Sunday that the use of terrorism as an instrument of statecraft can never be justified or rationalised, in remarks that also covered United Nations reform, the wars in Ukraine and West Asia, and the governance of artificial intelligence.
Mr. Jaishankar was speaking at the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi to mark United Nations Day. The conference was themed on "Non-Dualism for World Understanding".
Jaishankar on terrorism: no justification
Describing terrorism as a deadly threat to peace, the Minister said it persists because not every state shows zero tolerance towards it. In his words, some countries still allow political calculations to take precedence over the fight against the threat.
"Its usage as an instrument of statecraft is simply unacceptable," he said. He called for sharper global awareness and a stronger resolve to counter terrorism "in all its forms and manifestations". He did not name any country.
The remarks came two days after an attack on a church in Karak, Jordan, on October 23. Reports said seven people were killed and 34 injured. India's Ministry of External Affairs described the attack as "heinous" and "cowardly", expressed solidarity with Jordan and reaffirmed India's commitment to fighting terrorism.
Wars and the 4F crisis
On the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, Mr. Jaishankar said peace is indivisible in a globalised world and that people far from the fighting are paying the price. "We cannot remain helpless spectators," he said. India, he added, backs dialogue and diplomacy as the only solution and is open to working with partners towards that end.
He also pointed to what he called a "4F crisis" of finance, fuel, food and fertiliser, saying the Global North shares responsibility for finding solutions.
Unequal progress in an interconnected world, the Minister warned, is "a prescription for continuous instability". He linked development and security.
On the economy, Mr. Jaishankar called for de-risking the international economic system and for more diversified options for nations. He urged urgent dialogue on market distortions caused by chokepoints.
UN reform and artificial intelligence
The Minister repeated India's long-standing call for changes in the multilateral system. Shortcomings of the United Nations, he said, must be addressed, and large parts of the world cannot be excluded from decision-making.
"The UN must show leadership; not be a spectator to global crises," he said, urging a renewed collective commitment to reforms that he described as long overdue.
On technology, Mr. Jaishankar said artificial intelligence should not be controlled by a few. He reiterated India's support for a responsible, inclusive and human-centric approach to the technology.
United Nations Day, observed on October 24, marks the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945.
The Minister's address comes at a time when India is also hosting international gatherings in the capital, including a parliamentary forum of BRICS countries that begins on Monday. No official text of the Sunday speech had been released at the time of writing, and the quotations above are those reported from the event.
