Referring to Pakistan’s failed attempt to get four Indian nationals listed under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee, Secretary and Legal Adviser in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN Yedla Umasankar on Tuesday at the 6th Committee of the UN General Assembly said that the UN Security Council should not be misused by countries with “retaliatory intent to name innocent civilians as terrorist” without credible evidence by invoking non-transparent working methods and procedures.
Pakistan had submitted the names of Indian nationals Angara Appaji, Gobinda Patnaik, Ajoy Mistry, and Venumadhav Dongara for designation under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.
However, Pakistan’s attempt was thwarted last month after the US, the UK, France, Germany, and Belgium blocked the move in the Council to list Appaji and Patnaik. According to sources, no evidence was given by Pakistan in its case to get the individuals listed. Similarly, an earlier attempt by Pakistan to list Mistry and Dongara was blocked by the Council around June/July.
“We believe that the UN Security Council continues to be an effective forum for the maintenance of international peace and security and combating terrorism”, Yedla Umasankar said.
“However, it should also be ensured that the forum is not misused by countries with retaliatory intent to name innocent civilians as a terrorist without credible evidence by invoking non-transparent working methods and procedures”, he said.
He added, “Without naming Pakistan, he said, India has been and continues to be a victim of terrorism sponsored across our borders. We have had the first-hand experience of the cruel link between transnational organized crime and terrorism.”
India also called on the need to work together to expose and destroy the linkages that exist between terrorists and their supporters.
“We need an international mechanism to ensure accountability and justice, enhanced dialogue and broaden understanding amongst member states”, Umasankar said.
“While the threat emanating from international terrorism is looming large, the inability of the UN to agree on a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism remains one of the most glaring shortcomings in the international legislative framework, which could have boosted enforcement efforts to destroy safe havens of terrorists, their financial flows and their support networks”, he noted.
