“26/11 will never ever be forgotten“: Jaishankar at the UNSC Counter-Terrorism Committee meet
UN terror meet in Mumbai: India is hosting a special meeting of the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) in which issues like terror financing through crypto-currency and the use of drones in new-age terrorism were discussed.
India shared the intricate details of Pakistani terror attacks, after earlier exposing Pak-China complicity in blocking terrorists‘ designation. Adding that Pakistan’s grey-listing by the FATF helped control terrorist activities.
External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar and other top officials of various countries are present at the meeting. India described terrorism as a “serious threat” to international peace and security, and to the entire humanity and called upon the international community to send out a message that it will “never give up” on holding terrorists accountable and delivering justice.
Speaking at the informal opening session of the two-day anti-terrorism meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), in Mumbai, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the task of bringing the mastermind and perpetrators of the Mumbai 26/11 terror attack to justice remains unfinished.
Earlier, S Jaishankar laid the wreath at the 26/11 Memorial at Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai, today. He hailed the sacrifice of martyrs and the valiant spirit of police and Mumbaikars and said, “26/11 will never ever be forgotten“.
“In another month, we will be observing the 14th anniversary of the ghastly attacks on Mumbai in November 2008. While one of the terrorists was captured alive, prosecuted, and convicted by the highest court in India, key conspirators and planners of the 26/11 attacks continue to remain protected…We have endeavoured to bring the mastermind and perpetrators of the attack to justice. This task remains unfinished,” Jaishankar said at the 26/11 Memorial.
The survivors of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack urged the UN to take decisive action against the masterminds of the terror attacks.
“We have heard the voices of its victims today. Their loss is immeasurable. However, it’s incumbent on us, as responsible members of the international community to remember that trauma and to persevere in our efforts to bring the perpetrators of terrorism to justice. We owe this to every victim of terrorism across the world,” he said.
“18 members of the Indian police forces, 12 members of the Taj hotel staff, and security were martyred in the line of duty. As we pay tribute to them at this 26/11 memorial site, we salute their valour and resolve. We all recall that the victims included ordinary Mumbaikars going about their daily lives at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station, the patients, doctors, and nursing staff at the Cama Hospital, the guests and staff of the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, Cafe Leopold and the Oberoi Trident hotel, the Chabad House where baby Moshe’s parents were killed and innocent bystanders on the street,” he added.
He further said that UNSC has been regrettably unable to act in some cases when it comes to proscribing some terrorists because of “political considerations”. “When it comes to proscribing some of these terrorists, the Security Council has regrettably been unable to act in some cases because of political considerations. This undermines our collective credibility and our collective interests,” he added.
Jaishankar underscored that a key aspect of combating terrorism is to “effectively curb” terror financing. “Terrorism may have plagued several regions of the world. We, in India, understand its cost more than others. But with that experience, comes the steeling of national resolve. Decades of cross-border terror has not and will not weaken our commitment to fight back,” he added.
This is the first meeting of the UNSC-CTC in India since its establishment in 2001. The meet is being held at Hotel Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai. Delegates from several countries excluding Pakistan attended the meeting. China, France, Gabon, Ghana, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, Russian Federation, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and Brazil delegates were present at the meeting.
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India need to go like Israel – “Raid on Entebbe” capabilities. Till then barking dog do not bite..applies to India for West is not committed to walk the talk.