News Analysis India

Tag: United Nations Security Council

  • Elon Musk Terms India Not Having Permanent Seat In UNSC As ‘Absurd’ | world news

    Tesla founder and owner of social media platform Musk made the remarks while replying to a post of American-Israeli businessman Michael Eisenberg who confronted Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres’ post backing Africa for a permanent seat.

    “How can we accept that Africa still lacks a single Permanent Member in the Security Council? Institutions must reflect today’s world, not that of 80 years ago. September’s Summit of the Future will be an opportunity to consider global governance reforms & rebuild trust,” said Guterres.

    To this, Eisenberg responded, “And what about India? Better yet is to dismantle the UN and build something new with real leadership.”

    And what about India?

    Better yet is to dismantle the @UN and build something new with real leadership. https://t.co/EYpyooHaH4 — Michael Eisenberg (@mikeeisenberg) January 21, 2024

    Musk responded to Eisenberg’s post saying there needs to be a revision of the UN bodies. “At some point, there needs to be a revision of the UN bodies. Problem is that those with excess power don’t want to give it up. India not having a permanent seat on the Security Council, despite being the most populous country on Earth, is absurd. Africa collectively should also have a permanent seat imo,” said Musk.

    At some point, there needs to be a revision of the UN bodies.

    Problem is that those with excess power don’t want to give it up.

    India not having a permanent seat on the Security Council, despite being the most populous country on Earth, is absurd.

    Africa collectively should… — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2024

    India has been vying for a permanent seat in the UNSC but its bid has been blocked by China time and again. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had questioned the credibility and effectiveness of the UNSC. PM Modi had once said that the credibility and effectiveness of global institutions is being questioned as there has been no change in these institutions despite the passage of time. “These institutions reflect the mindset and realities of the world 75 years ago,” he had said.

    The reform of the United Nations Security Council has been under discussion for over a decade, yet member nations have not reached a consensus on the council’s size and whether additional nations should possess veto powers. Consequently, the Security Council still mirrors the global power dynamics of 1945, with the P-5 (the USA, UK, France, Russia, and China) retaining their privileged status as victors of the Second World War.

    Countries such as India, Germany, Japan, and Brazil have been advocating for the acquisition of permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council. These nations aspire to have a more significant role in global governance and decision-making within the UN, reflecting their economic and geopolitical importance on the world stage.

  • Will continue to take firm, decisive steps against terrorism: India’s swipe at Pakistan during UNSC meet

    By PTI

    UNITED NATIONS: India will continue to take firm and decisive action against cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan, New Delhi’s representation said here on Tuesday, asserting that the onus is on Islamabad to create a conducive atmosphere for any meaningful dialogue which can be held only in an atmosphere free of terror, hostility and violence.

    “India desires normal neighbourly relations with all countries including Pakistan, and is committed to addressing outstanding issues, if any, bilaterally and peacefully in accordance with the Simla Agreement and the Lahore declaration,” Counsellor in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN Kajal Bhat said in the UN Security Council.

    “However, any meaningful dialogue can be held only in an atmosphere free of terror, hostility and violence. The onus is on Pakistan to create such a conducive atmosphere. Till then India will continue to take firm and decisive steps to respond to cross-border terrorism.”

    India hit back at Pakistan in the UN Security Council after Islamabad raised the Kashmir issue at the 15-nation Council.

    “I’m constrained to take the floor once again to respond to some frivolous remarks made by the representative of Pakistan earlier today. This is not the first time the representative of Pakistan has misused platforms provided by the UN to propagate false and malicious propaganda against my country and seeking in vain to divert the world’s attention from the sad state of his country where terrorists enjoy a free pass while the lives of ordinary people, especially those belonging to the minority communities are turned upside down,” Bhat said.

    Bhat made the response after Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram raked up the Jammu and Kashmir issue in the UN Security Council during the open debate on ‘Maintenance of International Peace and Security Through Preventive Diplomacy’.

    Bhat, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, said in her remarks that UN member states are aware that Pakistan has an “established history and policy” of harbouring, aiding and actively supporting terrorists.

    “This is a country which has been globally recognised as one openly supporting, training, financing and arming terrorists as a matter of state policy. It holds the ignoble record of hosting the largest number of terrorists proscribed by the UN Security Council.”

    Categorically stating India’s position, she said the entire union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were, are and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India.

    “This includes the areas that are under the illegal occupation of Pakistan.”

    India called upon Pakistan to immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation.

  • UNSC meeting today to discuss security situation in Afghanistan

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which is currently headed by India, will meet on Friday to assess the security situation in Afghanistan amidst rise in violence by the Taliban. 

    India’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador TS Tirumurti said the meeting will include a briefing and consultations on the developments in the war-torn country. “UN #SecurityCouncil will meet on Friday, 6th August, under Indian Presidency to discuss and take stock of the situation in #Afghanistan,” Tirumurti said in his tweet.

    The announcement comes a day after Afghan envoy to India Farid Mamundzay, in an interview to this newspaper, said that Afghan foreign minister Mohammed Haneef Atmar during a telephonic conversation with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had urged India to convene a meeting on Afghanistan. According to sources, the meeting was convened after consultations with the five permanent and nine non-permanent members of the UNSC.

    Mamundzay thanked India for calling the meeting. “Convening an emergency UNSC session on Afghanistan is a positive development. UN & international community must play a greater role to stop the tragedy in Afghanistan due to violence & atrocities by terrorists. Thank you India for the lead role as UNSC President,” he tweeted.

    Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India is monitoring the situation in Afghanistan and that India continues to call for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire. “As regards the UNSC, the issue of Afghanistan will be deliberated. You would have seen the Press Statement of August 3 on the escalating violence in Afghanistan, which echoes much of what we have been saying. During tomorrow’s debate, we will share our vision and perspectives on Afghanistan and look forward to productive deliberations.”

    Jaishankar in Iran, talk on Taliban likely New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday reached Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi. Jaishankar, who will be in Iran for two days, will meet top Iranian leadership including his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif. The situation in Afghanistan and resurgence of the Taliban is likely to be discussed.

  • India will always be a voice of moderation: EAM S Jaishankar

    India has previously been a member of the UN Security Council in 1950-51, 1967-68, 1972-73, 1977-78, 1984-85, and 1991-92.

  • India to focus on 3 priorities at UNSC

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  India will focus on three priorities  peacekeepking, maritime security and counter-terrorism during its presidency at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

    New Delhi will assume the rotating presidency of UNSC from Sunday and again in December next year, during the later part of its tenure as a non-permanent member of the council. “There are three major areas we will focus on. Maritime security, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism. We will focus on these themes through three signature events,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador TS Tirumurti said on Friday.

    Saying that maritime security has always been high on India’s foreign policy, Tirumurti said India has been a net security provider, especially in the Indian Ocean Region. “Consequently, we believe that it is time for the Security Council to take a holistic approach to the issue of maritime security that safeguards common prosperity and security interests.”

    According to the permanent representative, India will continue to emphasise on counter-terrorism. “Counter-terrorism is a national priority. We are firmly against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and believe that there could be no justification whatsoever for terrorism,” he said.

    Peacekeeping, according to Tirumurti, is close to India’s heart. India contributes maximum to the UN Peacekeeping forces with over 5,000 personnel serving in various missions. Over 150 Indians lost their lives while serving in the UNPKF.  “It is incumbent upon us to ensure that their safety and security are given the highest importance. Therefore, in the larger context of peacekeeping, we will be focusing on how to ensure the safety of peacekeepers, especially by using better technology, and how to bring perpetrators of crimes against peacekeepers to justice,” Tirumurti said.

  • India, China discuss issues relating to United Nations Security Council

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India and China on Tuesday held discussions on a wide range of issues relating to the United Nations Security Council, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

    The MEA said the Chinese delegation was briefed about India’s priorities during its UNSC tenure in the meeting that took place in the virtual format.

    “Both sides discussed a wide range of issues on the UNSC agenda. The Indian delegation briefed the Chinese side on India’s priorities during its UNSC tenure,” the MEA said in a statement.

    It said both sides agreed to continue their engagement on key issues on the UNSC agenda.

    China is a permanent member of the UNSC while India began its two-year tenure as a non-permanent member on January 1.

    In August, India is scheduled to serve as the president of the powerful UN body.

    The Indian delegation was headed by Prakash Gupta, joint secretary (UNP and Summits) in the MEA.

    The Indian team comprised officials from East Asia (EA) and UN Economic and Social (UNES) divisions of the MEA as well as from the India’s Permanent Mission in New York and Indian embassy in Beijing.

    The Chinese side at the meeting was led by Yang Tao, director general of the department of international organisations and conferences at the Chinese foreign ministry.

    India and China are locked in a military standoff in eastern Ladakh since May 5 last year.

  • India to chair UNSC’s crucial Taliban and Libya sanctions committees

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: India will head three key panels in the United Nations Security Council after it assumed a two-year-long non-permanent membership at the body on January 1.

    The panels include the Taliban sanctions committee, the counter-terrorism committee for the year 2022 and the Libya sanctions committee. By heading the Taliban sanctions committee, India will get a greater say in the Afghan peace process and will be able to step up pressure on Pakistan over the issue of terrorism.

    Reacting on the development, the spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs, Anurag Srivastava, said India’s tenure would be guided by a commitment to promote responsible and inclusive solutions to international peace and security.

    Meanwhile, taking note of the US government’s decision to extend the ban on certain non-immigrant visas, the Indian government said it is in touch with the authorities concerned. “We are engaged with the US government for increased predictability in the visa regime and to minimise inconvenience to Indian nationals,” Srivastava said.

    The US government had temporarily placed a ban on certain non-immigrant visas, including H1-B, till December 31 and later extended it for another three months citing the coronavirus pandemic.