India has reiterated its demand for an international action against terror groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and ‘their shadowy supporters’.
Denouncing the two organisations, whose leadership is based in Pakistan, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin on Monday told the Security Council that it was imperative to take action against the support they get from outside.
“We need to address, as an imperative, the support that terrorist organisations like the Taliban, Haqqani Network, Daesh, aI-Qaeda and its designated affiliates such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed that operate entirely outside the fabric of international law draw from their shadowy supporters outside Afghanistan,” Akbaruddin said.
"While the Taliban sanctions regime remains split for more than five years, the designated terrorist group makes concerted effort to capture and hold territory. Therefore, for numerous Afghan women, men and children there is no respite from the plague of terrorism," he added.
Quoting Sufi poet Rumi, he said, "Need to remind ourselves of what Rumi said, 'What you sow will bear fruit. If you've any sense my friend, don't plant anything but peace'."
The statement was an apparent veiled attack on Pakistan. India has time and again accused Pakistan of using its soil for terrorism.
In an implied criticism of China, Akbaruddin blamed the ‘split’ in the UN bodies that mete out sanctions on terrorist organisations for the world body's inability to deal with the terrorism.
China has repeatedly blocked India's efforts to have international sanctions imposed on Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar by a committee that takes action against al-Qaida and its affiliates. Azhar was behind the attack on the Pathankot air force base this year.
As a member of the Security Council, China has also provided cover for Pakistan releasing on bail Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the LeT commander who masterminded the 2008 attack on Mumbai which killed more than 160 people. He was already on the UN list of those facing sanctions as terrorists.
Akbaruddin further called on the international community to make ‘it clear that we will neither roll over in the face of terror, nor will we of allow the roll back of the achievements of the resolute people and government of Afghanistan in the last decade and a half’.
