'Dialogue only effective solution to global turmoil amid sharp East-West polarisation': Jaishankar at UNGA

Amid escalating diplomatic tensions between India and Canada over the killing of a Sikh extremist leader, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday reiterated India’s fullest support to the global community for the United Nations General Assembly’s theme this year of “rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity”. “This is an occasion to take stock of our achievements and challenges, even while sharing our aspirations and goals. Indeed, with regard to both there is much that India has to share. The world is witnessing an exceptional period of turmoil and there is much that countries together need to do,” Jaishankar said at the General Debate of the ongoing high-level United Nations General Assembly session. Reiterating that “political convenience” could not be the basis for a nation’s response to terrorism, he stressed on the need to respect territorial integrity and called for “non-interference in internal affairs”. Jaishankar’s comments at the UN General Assembly come amid a massive diplomatic row with Canada, which has claimed “agents of Delhi” were involved in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. Nijjar - wanted by India on terrorism charges - was a Canadian citizen. The Indian External Affairs Minister was addressing the ongoing 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The UN General Assembly is the main policy-making body of the global organisation comprising all member states and provides a crucial forum for multilateral discussions on the full gamut of international relations covered by the Charter of the United Nations. “Our latest assertion is in path-breaking legislation to reserve one-third of the seats for women in our legislatures. I speak for a society where ancient traditions of democracy have struck deep modern roots and as a result, our thinking, approaches and actions are more grounded and authentic,” he told the gathering at the global summit.

“As a civilizational polity that embraces modernity, we bring both tradition and technology equally confidently to the table. It is this fusion that defines India that is today more aptly called ‘Bharat’,” Jaishankar said. Emphasizing that a few nations setting the agenda on the global stage won’t go unnoticed by the developing and emerging economies of the world, Jaishankar said, “We must never again allow an injustice like vaccine apartheid to recur. Climate Action too cannot continue to witness an evasion of historical responsibilities. 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… India stepped forward as first responders in disasters like in Turkey or Syria. When Sri Lanka experienced an economic crisis, India came forward to help. Partners like the Pacific Islands have appreciated our help in climate action, food, and other areas,” he recalled. Earlier on Tuesday, Jaishankar met the top UN leadership and discussed India’s G20 Presidency, regional issues and global challenges, sustainable development goals and Security Council reforms. A day before he addresses the General Debate at the ongoing high-level United Nations General Assembly session, Jaishankar met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and President of the 78th session of the General Assembly Dennis Francis on Monday at the headquarters of the global organisation. Jaishankar met Francis at the UN headquarters and thanked him for his presence at the special India-UN for Global South: Delivering for Development side event he hosted on Saturday on the margins of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly. He also met the United Nations Development Programme Administrator Achim Steiner. Jaishankar said it was a “pleasure” to meet with Guterres and that he discussed “how India’s G20 Presidency has contributed to strengthening” the UN’s sustainable development agenda. “We have coordinated closely in this regard over the last year,” Jaishankar wrote on X, adding that he appreciated Guterres’ strong commitment to reforming international financial institutions. Guterres and Jaishankar also “discussed the situations in Afghanistan, Myanmar, and other global challenges”, according to a UN readout. The UN secretary-general attended the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on September 9 and 10 held under India’s Presidency of the grouping. Jaishankar began his nine-day visit to the United States on Friday last week, primarily to attend the annual session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York and to host a special event on Global South.