UNSC Adoption of Resolution for Renewal of Mandate of Counter Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED)

India’s Explanation of Vote

[Thursday, 30 December 2021]

Mr. President,

India has voted in favour of the draft resolution to renew the mandate of Counter Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and we welcome its adoption by the Council today.

2. Having suffered the scourge of cross border terrorism for decades, India has always been at the forefront of global counter terrorism efforts. I would like this Council to recall the eight point action plan proposed by India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar during his statement on 12 January, 2021 at the Ministerial meeting on 20th Anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1373 (2020) and the establishment of the Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC). He had called for and I reiterate: a) Summon the political will. Don’t justify terrorism. Don’t glorify terrorists; b) No double standards. Terrorists are terrorists. No good or bad distinction needed; c) Don’t place block and holds on listing without any reason; d) Discourage exclusivist thinking; d) Enlist and delist objectively, not on political or religious considerations; e) recognize the linkage to organized crime; f) support and strengthen the FATF;  and g) provide greater funding to UN Counter Terrorism Directorate.

3. India is committed to pursue all necessary measures in collaboration with other member States towards the goal of zero tolerance for terrorism. As the Chair of  CTC for 2022, India will make determined efforts to further enhance the role of CTC in strengthening the multilateral response to counter terrorism, and more importantly, ensuring that global response to the threat of terrorism remains unambiguous, undivided and effective.

4. In June this year the 7^th review resolution of the Global Counter Terrorism Strategy or GCTS was adopted by the General Assembly by consensus. However, it is unfortunate that attempts are being made to undermine the hard-earned consensus. The tendency to put more constraints on member States, even at the expense of compromising their ability to effectively deal with the threat of terrorism, is worrying.

5. Mr. President, the dynamic nature of threat of terrorism and its wide-ranging impact on all sections of the society, has manifested the need for harnessing the synergies of private sector, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and think tanks to address the threat of terrorism. The whole-of-society approach to counter terrorism is the need of the hour. Such an approach will especially assist the national governments in addressing the threats posed by use of new technologies like Internet and social media for disseminating propaganda, organizing and recruitment by the terrorist groups, new methods of financing such as  cryptocurrencies, use of drones in cross-border trafficking of drugs, arms, and even for launching complex terrorist attacks on neighboring countries. Towards this objective, India welcomes CTED’s engagement with private sector and international bodies, including Financial Action Task Force [FATF] aimed at addressing these challenges. CTED’s engagement with civil society organizations needs to become more geographically inclusive and representative.

6. Finally, member States must remain united against the tendency of labeling acts of terrorism based on its motivation. Such categorization will lead the global community back to the pre-9/11 era of “my terrorist” versus “your terrorist”. We cannot allow anyone anywhere providing any kind of justification for terrorist acts.

7. Combating terrorism must be at the center of Our Common Agenda, not at its periphery. I thank you.

****