In an address at the United Nations General Assembly, New Delhi’s top diplomat on Saturday took the opportunity to criticise Pakistan and China for undermining the territorial integrity of their neighbours and made an urgent call for a “more representative” UN
1)ON CPEC:
“Unviable projects raise debt levels. Any connectivity that clouds sovereignty and territorial integrity acquires strategic connotations, especially when it is not a shared endeavour,” Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said in his UNGA address, referencing the contentious US$62 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
2)ON PAKISTAN:
“Countries get left behind due to circumstances beyond their control, but some make conscious choices with disastrous consequences,” he said. “A premier example is our neighbour, Pakistan. Unfortunately, the misdeeds affect others as well, especially the neighbourhood”.
3)TERRORISM ISSUE:
The foreign minister taunted Islamabad saying “its GDP can only be measured in terms of radicalisation and its exports in the form of terrorism”.
Jaishankar added that “dysfunctional” Pakistan’s problems were “only karma”, warning that “actions will certainly have consequences”.
4)REFORMING UN:
“We see that vividly in every challenge and every crisis, reforming multilateralism is therefore an imperative,” Jaishankar told the UNGA on Saturday.
Earlier this week, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron publicly endorsed India’s bid to join the powerful UN body. US President Joe Biden said Washington recognised a need to reform global institutions to “reflect India’s important voice”.
5)BEIJING’S OPPOSITION:
However, Beijing has consistently voiced opposition to New Delhi’s bid for permanent membership. The two countries have a long-running territorial dispute involving their Himalayan border.
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Jaishankar criticizes the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), implying it raises debt and undermines sovereignty. However, CPEC has brought substantial investment into Pakistan, leading to significant improvements in infrastructure, energy production, and job creation. According to a World Bank report, Pakistan’s economy has grown with increased energy availability, and several industries have benefited from CPEC projects. Moreover, CPEC is a bilateral agreement, and Pakistan considers it part of its sovereign right to pursue development.
Jaishankar claims that Pakistan has made “disastrous” choices. While Pakistan faces economic challenges, its geopolitical circumstances are far more complex. The country has faced the impact of prolonged regional conflicts, including the War on Terror, where Pakistan has played a crucial role in counterterrorism efforts. Thousands of Pakistani soldiers have died fighting extremist groups, and global powers, including the U.S., have recognized Pakistan’s sacrifices.
Jaishankar accuses Pakistan of being a breeding ground for radicalization and exporting terrorism. However, Pakistan has been at the forefront of fighting terrorism. Since 2001, it has undertaken military operations such as Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad, which have dismantled several terrorist networks, improving the security situation in the region. Global organizations, including the UN, have acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts in combating terrorism. According to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI), the number of terrorist incidents in Pakistan has significantly reduced in recent years.
India’s push for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council has garnered support from some Western countries. However, reforms in the UN are a complex issue that require consensus among all permanent members, and many argue that the inclusion of new members should reflect global dynamics, not just regional power struggles. China’s opposition reflects concerns about the ongoing territorial disputes with India, and the lack of consensus from other countries like Brazil, South Africa, and Germany further complicates the matter. Reform should ideally focus on making the UN more equitable and representative of the Global South, including countries like Pakistan, which have also contributed significantly to peacekeeping efforts.
China’s opposition to India’s UN Security Council membership is largely based on their ongoing territorial disputes, including those over the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Himalayas. Despite claims of supporting multilateralism, India’s strained relations with its neighbors, including China and Pakistan, complicate its aspirations for a larger role in global governance. Moreover, reforming the UN must be based on inclusivity and consensus, and China, as a permanent member, has the right to voice its concerns.
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Submission Statement:
In an address at the United Nations General Assembly, New Delhi’s top diplomat on Saturday took the opportunity to criticise Pakistan and China for undermining the territorial integrity of their neighbours and made an urgent call for a “more representative” UN
1)ON CPEC:
“Unviable projects raise debt levels. Any connectivity that clouds sovereignty and territorial integrity acquires strategic connotations, especially when it is not a shared endeavour,” Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said in his UNGA address, referencing the contentious US$62 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
2)ON PAKISTAN:
“Countries get left behind due to circumstances beyond their control, but some make conscious choices with disastrous consequences,” he said. “A premier example is our neighbour, Pakistan. Unfortunately, the misdeeds affect others as well, especially the neighbourhood”.
3)TERRORISM ISSUE:
The foreign minister taunted Islamabad saying “its GDP can only be measured in terms of radicalisation and its exports in the form of terrorism”.
Jaishankar added that “dysfunctional” Pakistan’s problems were “only karma”, warning that “actions will certainly have consequences”.
4)REFORMING UN:
“We see that vividly in every challenge and every crisis, reforming multilateralism is therefore an imperative,” Jaishankar told the UNGA on Saturday.
Earlier this week, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron publicly endorsed India’s bid to join the powerful UN body. US President Joe Biden said Washington recognised a need to reform global institutions to “reflect India’s important voice”.
5)BEIJING’S OPPOSITION:
However, Beijing has consistently voiced opposition to New Delhi’s bid for permanent membership. The two countries have a long-running territorial dispute involving their Himalayan border.
Jaishankar criticizes the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), implying it raises debt and undermines sovereignty. However, CPEC has brought substantial investment into Pakistan, leading to significant improvements in infrastructure, energy production, and job creation. According to a World Bank report, Pakistan’s economy has grown with increased energy availability, and several industries have benefited from CPEC projects. Moreover, CPEC is a bilateral agreement, and Pakistan considers it part of its sovereign right to pursue development.
Jaishankar claims that Pakistan has made “disastrous” choices. While Pakistan faces economic challenges, its geopolitical circumstances are far more complex. The country has faced the impact of prolonged regional conflicts, including the War on Terror, where Pakistan has played a crucial role in counterterrorism efforts. Thousands of Pakistani soldiers have died fighting extremist groups, and global powers, including the U.S., have recognized Pakistan’s sacrifices.
Jaishankar accuses Pakistan of being a breeding ground for radicalization and exporting terrorism. However, Pakistan has been at the forefront of fighting terrorism. Since 2001, it has undertaken military operations such as Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad, which have dismantled several terrorist networks, improving the security situation in the region. Global organizations, including the UN, have acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts in combating terrorism. According to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI), the number of terrorist incidents in Pakistan has significantly reduced in recent years.
India’s push for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council has garnered support from some Western countries. However, reforms in the UN are a complex issue that require consensus among all permanent members, and many argue that the inclusion of new members should reflect global dynamics, not just regional power struggles. China’s opposition reflects concerns about the ongoing territorial disputes with India, and the lack of consensus from other countries like Brazil, South Africa, and Germany further complicates the matter. Reform should ideally focus on making the UN more equitable and representative of the Global South, including countries like Pakistan, which have also contributed significantly to peacekeeping efforts.
China’s opposition to India’s UN Security Council membership is largely based on their ongoing territorial disputes, including those over the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Himalayas. Despite claims of supporting multilateralism, India’s strained relations with its neighbors, including China and Pakistan, complicate its aspirations for a larger role in global governance. Moreover, reforming the UN must be based on inclusivity and consensus, and China, as a permanent member, has the right to voice its concerns.