The Indian External Affairs Minister urged the international community to prioritize “dialogue and diplomacy" over actions that could worsen existing tensions.
New York: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the international community must show "zero tolerance" towards terrorism, calling it a "perennial disruptor of peace" and a persistent threat to global development.
While speaking at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New York, Jaishankar emphasized that terrorism remains a persistent and dangerous disruptor of global peace and development.
“It is imperative that the world display neither tolerance nor accommodation to terrorist activities. Given the extensive networking among terrorists, those who act against them on any front actually render a larger service to the international community as a whole," he said.
He said that ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza are inflicting heavy costs on the Global South by disrupting supplies of energy, food, and fertilizers, creating new vulnerabilities in already fragile economies. “Apart from jeopardising supplies and logistics, access and cost themselves became pressure points on nations," he said.
Jaishankar further pointed out that the world is grappling with challenges of conflict, economic stress, and terrorism. Against this backdrop, he criticized the limitations of existing multilateral institutions, particularly the United Nations, saying they have been found wanting in effectively addressing contemporary crises.
Asserting “the need for reforming multilateralism has never been greater," Jaishankar called for urgent structural changes to make global governance more representative, responsive, and effective.
The Minister also underscored that India’s focus is on the correlation between international peace and global development. He said that global peace and development have seen parallel deterioration in recent times—particularly to the detriment of the Global South.
He emphasized that diplomacy and dialogue must remain the preferred path forward, especially when nations are caught in geopolitical rivalries. He added that some countries with the ability to engage both sides of a conflict could play a bridging role for the international community.
Earlier this week, Jaishankar urged Global South countries to reduce dependence on any single supplier or market by building resilient supply chains, alongside promoting fair economic practices, and boosting South-South trade and technology collaborations.
While addressing a high-level meeting of Like-Minded Global South Countries on the sidelines of the 80th UNGA session, Jaishankar said the Global South must present a united front in demanding a level playing field in the international system.
