India on Tuesday said it is a time to call out the countries that blatantly violate global commitments by harbouring terrorists and are willfully giving support to terror entities.
Emphasizing that the threat of terrorism is "massive and global," India on Tuesday said it was time to call out countries that openly violate the world's commitment to holding terrorists and are deliberately supporting terrorist organizations.
Speaking at a debate at the UN General Assembly, India's Ambassador to the United Nations TS Tirumurti said the international community needed to adopt a policy of zero tolerance for terrorism on immediate basis.
He was speaking at the UN General Assembly debate on the adoption of a resolution on the 7th review of the Global counter Terrorism Strategy (GCTS).
Adopted in 2006, GCTS is a unique global tool for advancing national, regional and international efforts to combat terrorism.
The UN General Assembly reviews the GCTS every two years, making it a living document that is in line with its anti-terrorism priorities.(ads2)
Calling the GCTS "a major step forward", Tirumurti emphasized the need for all member states not to "waste" the benefits of the fight against terrorism.
However he also pointed out that the tool has failed to resolve the "stumbling block that prevents the adoption of a comprehensive international terrorist summit".
He called on "member states to continue their dialogue through policies and the fulfillment of their obligations."
"It is time to call on those who are openly violating the international commitment to deter terrorists and terrorist organizations and to deliberately support," he said.
"Forgiveing terrorism in any way, whether religious, ideological, racial or ethnic, will only provide the terrorists with the food they need," he said.
Tirumurti also pointed out that the rise of hatred and violent terrorist attacks was not limited to the three religions of Abraham but also to other religions - Buddhism, Sikhism, and Hinduism.
"The UN is not a forum for member states to take sides on religious issues but to promote a culture based on universal principles of humanity and compassion," he said.