S Jaishankar takes veiled dig at Canada in UNGA speech
S Jaishankar on Tuesday in a veiled message to Canada asserted that «political convenience» cannot be the basis for a response to terrorism or extremism while calling on the global community to respect the rules-based order and the UN Charter.
Addressing the UN General Assembly in New York, the minister also called out nations (without naming any) for interfering with the internal affairs of other countries.
Jaishankar's remarks — coming amid the India-Canada diplomatic row and continuing tension along the border with Pakistan — have been interpreted as a subtle swipe at both the countries. Last week, there were sharper words for Pakistan where India demanded Islamabad shut its «infrastructure of terrorism» and said that matters pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were its «internal affairs».
«The power of markets should not be utilised to steer food and energy from the needy to the wealthy.
Nor must we countenance that political convenience determines responses to terrorism, extremism and violence. Similarly, respect for territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs cannot be exercises in cherry picking.»
«When reality departs from rhetoric, we must have the courage to call it out.
Without genuine solidarity, there can never be real trust. This is very much the sentiment of the Global South,» he affirmed.
«All nations pursue their national interests.
We, in India, have never seen that as being in contradiction with global good. When we aspire to be a leading power, this is not for self-aggrandizement but to take on greater responsibility and make more contributions.
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