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India Gazette
07-07-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
At BRICS, strong support for India's global terror convention
Rio de Janeiro [Brazil], July 7 (ANI): The leaders' joint statement, issued after the 17th BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, resonates with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's views in very broad terms, including the condemnation of terrorism in all its forms, MEA Secretary Dammu Ravi said. Addressing a press conference here on Sunday (local time) the MEA Secretary (Economic Relations) said the BRICS group of countries have extended their strong support for a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), which has been India's intitiative in the United Nations. The treaty proposed by India within the UN framework aims to provide a comprehensive legal basis for combating terrorism. It aims to define and criminalize various terrorist actions, ensuring that individuals who commit these acts can be prosecuted or extradited. The MEA Secretary said that the leaders' Joint Statement, issued after the the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday condemns manifestation of terrorism, including financing of it. 'Para 34 (of BRICS declaration) says that condemnation of terrorism in all its manifestations, including those who abet, who finance either covertly or overtly. There is also a reference to the cross-border movement of terrorists and the listing of terror groups. There is also strong support for the Comprehensive Convention against Terrorism, which was India's initiative in the UN for a long time... That message is very clear to our neighbours...' They expressed solidarity and strong condemnation in that was very well captured in that,' he said. 'We have other pillars, but many of India's ideas that we've been negotiating over a period of time have been well brought out, and in today's discussion, what we noticed is most of the ideas and views exchanged during all the sessions resonate with the honourable Prime Minister's views in very broad terms,' he added. The BRICS statement also, without explicity referring to Pakistan, reaffirmed the group's commitment to addressing the cross border movement of terrorists, terror financing and safe havens . 'Let me articulate some of the most important questions that came up in the context of Pahalgam. If you look at the para 34, it 's very clear. One is there is unanimous condemnation of all the leaders. I think you need to know that. And it also says that condemnation in all its manifestations and including those who abet, who finance and either openly, covertly or overtly in both ways, it has been condemned. There is also a reference to the cross border movement of terrorists,' he said. Ravi said that the declaration is a strong message to India's 'neighbours.' 'It's also coming out very clearly and the listing of terrorist groups, and there is also a strong support for Comprehensive Convention on against terrorism, which was India's formulation and India's initiative in the UN for a long time. So the message is very clear. For anyone who understands the dangers of terrorism and how it can be, how it needs to be condemned, tackled not by just us, it's there is a solidarity, there is a universal condemnation, which means all the countries are against it in any form. So that message is very clear to our neighbours,' the MEA Secretary said. The BRICS leaders' declaration statement strongly condemned the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir which killed 26 innocent people. 'We reaffirm our commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, terrorism financing and safe havens,' the statement read. The leaders of BRICS nations welcomed the activities of the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group (CTWG) and its five Subgroups, based on the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Strategy, the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Action Plan, and the CTWG position paper. Prime Minister Modi, speaking deuing a session at the BRICS Summit asserted that condemning terrorism must be a 'principle' rather than a matter of 'convenience', describing it as the 'most serious challenge' for humanity in the current global scenario. Putting the spotlight on the terror attack in Pahalgam, PM Modi termed it reminder of terrorism's threat to global peace and called for unwavering international solidarity. He stated that the attack was a blow to the 'soul, identity, and dignity' of India, acknowledging the international support that the nation received in solidarity. PM Modi called for decisive sanctions against such acts, stating that victims and supporters of terrorism cannot be weighed on the same scale. 'For personal or political gain, giving silent consent to terrorism and supporting terror or terrorists should not be acceptable under any circumstances,' he said. The BRICS summit, hosted by Brazil, brought together leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, as well as new members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and Indonesia. (ANI)
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Use international law to take on Pakistan-backed terror
Operation Sindoor has powerfully demonstrated India's intent to use kinetic measures to tackle terrorism emanating from Pakistan. In addition to executing 'hot pursuits', India possesses other potent non-kinetic strategies, going beyond regular diplomacy, to ensure that Pakistan is held accountable for its continued support of terrorism directed against India. An impactful approach that India has not effectively employed so far is the strategy of 'lawfare', or leveraging international law to confront adversaries to accomplish strategic and diplomatic objectives. Leverage terrorism conventions A key element of a lawfare strategy against Pakistan should be to deploy international law to highlight Pakistan's sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. This is especially important as India has led the process of adopting a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) at the global level. India and Pakistan are parties to numerous terrorism conventions at the regional and international levels. The primary regional treaty is the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism, while key international treaties include the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (ICSFT) and the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings (Terrorist Bombing Convention). These conventions obligate that states not only criminalise acts of terrorism under their domestic laws and prosecute the perpetrators but also refrain from financing such activities. For instance, Article 2(1) of the ICSFT explicitly classifies terror financing as a crime. Similarly, Article 6 of the Additional Protocol to the SAARC terrorism convention requires states to take measures to prevent, suppress, and eradicate the financing of terrorism. Pakistan has a long history of sponsoring, abetting, and funding terrorism against India. Following the terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008, India meticulously gathered evidence to demonstrate Pakistan's active involvement in those attacks, which Islamabad later acknowledged, albeit reluctantly. India needs to consistently publicise proof of Pakistan's role, which includes the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. Further, India should utilise all international forums to build a solid legal case against Pakistan for its violations of international law regarding terrorism suppression. India's move to have all-party parliamentary delegations travelling abroad to present India's case on Operation Sindoor is an ideal opportunity to do this. India should identify specific provisions in terrorism conventions, along with various United Nations Security Council Resolutions that sanction terrorism, and customary international law that Pakistan is violating, and highlight these publicly. Rather than mere diplomatic hyperbole, a clear and compelling narrative entrenched in international law, grounded in indisputable facts and supported by irrefutable evidence will significantly benefit New Delhi's fight against cross-border terrorism. Use the ICJ A critical aspect of many terrorism conventions is that they grant jurisdiction to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to enforce the treaties. For example, Articles 20(1) and 24(1) of the Terrorist Bombing Convention and the ICSFT, respectively, empower a country to refer disputes to the ICJ. These provisions, known as compromissory clauses, help circumvent jurisdictional obstacles in international law, which is based on consent. Thus, countries that are signatories to these treaties are bound by ICJ jurisdiction unless they make specific reservations. Ukraine, for instance, invoked such a clause when it sued Russia before the ICJ for violating the ICSFT. Given that Pakistan has been sponsoring and abetting terrorism against India and has not taken any action against terror groups operating from its territory, New Delhi has a compelling case against Islamabad under these terrorism conventions, which it can present to the ICJ — just as it did in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case. Hurdles to overcome However, there are two significant hurdles. First, Pakistan has not accepted the ICJ's jurisdiction under the ICSFT due to a reservation, which could hinder efforts to hold Pakistan accountable. Nevertheless, India can still file a case with the ICJ to draw global attention to the issue. India should put the ball in the ICJ's court to address Pakistan's jurisdictional argument. Second, and perplexingly, India has adopted a reservation about the ICJ's jurisdiction under the Terrorist Bombing Convention, while Pakistan has accepted the ICJ's jurisdiction for this convention. This obstacle can be overcome if India withdraws its reservation, allowing it to initiate proceedings against Pakistan at the ICJ for terrorism. The ICJ may likely interpret the provisions of the ICSFT and the Terrorist Bombing Convention narrowly, similar to its approach in the Ukraine vs Russia case decided last year. Therefore, India should have fool-proof evidence and devise its legal strategy accordingly. The dissenting opinion of judges such as Hilary Charlesworth in Ukraine vs Russia can come in handy for India. In any case, India should not be overly concerned about the outcome of the legal dispute. Instead, it should utilise the legal proceedings to assiduously promote a global narrative against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, aligning it with its national objectives. In sum, international law and courtrooms can also be used to combat terrorism. To accomplish this, India must build state capacity and mainstream international law in statecraft. Prabhash Ranjan is Professor and Vice Dean (Research), Jindal Global Law School, O.P. Jindal Global University. The views expressed are personal
African Manager
05-05-2025
- Business
- African Manager
Tunisia-Turkey partnership day in Tunis May 13
A Tunisia-Turkey Partnership Day will take place in Tunis on May 13, 2025, organized by the Tunisian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIT) in collaboration with the Embassy of Turkey to Tunisia and the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM). The event, held alongside a visit by a delegation of Turkish business leaders from various economic sectors, will focus primarily on bilateral B2B meetings, according to the CCIT. Key sectors of interest include automotive spare parts, industrial fire protection, air conditioning & refrigeration, water cooling & ice production, water desalination, textiles and liquid transport via pipelines. The CCIT invites interested companies to confirm their participation by May 9, 2025.
Zawya
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
4th Meeting of India-Egypt Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism
The 4th Meeting of the India-Egypt Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism was held on 30 April 2025 in Cairo. The two delegations were led by Ambassador K. D. Dewal, Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism), Ministry of External Affairs of India and Ambassador Walid Al-Fiqi, Director of the Department of Counter Terrorism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt and included representatives of various agencies from both countries. India and Egypt strongly condemned the recent heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam that targeted domestic and international tourists. Egypt reaffirmed its full support for India in confronting all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining the country's security and stability. Both sides agreed to strengthen joint efforts in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The two sides exchanged views on terror threats in their respective countries and regions. Both sides discussed ways to strengthen areas of cooperation to counter new and emerging challenges such as use of technology for terrorist purposes and financing of terrorism, including crypto currencies, unmanned aerial systems and misuse of cyber space by terrorists for spreading terrorist propaganda. The two sides agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in anti-money laundering efforts, drug trafficking and organized crime. Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in training and capacity building, cyber security, use of AI for counter terrorism, exchange of best practices and information sharing. The two sides also discussed strengthening of multilateral cooperation in counter terrorism including in the United Nations, BRICS, the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF) and FATF. In this context, both sides exchanged views on how to enhance effectiveness of the GCTF and reiterated the commitment to early finalization and adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). The next meeting of the Joint Working Group shall be held in India on a mutually convenient date. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of External Affairs - Government of India.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
India, Egypt decide to work on technology abetting terror & terror financing
India and Egypt strongly condemned the recent heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam that targeted domestic and international tourists. Egypt reaffirmed its full support for India in confronting all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining the country's security and stability. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack A Chinese shadow falls on Pahalgam terror attack case probe How India can use water to pressure Pakistan Buzzkill: How India can dissolve the Pakistan problem, not just swat it Both sides agreed to strengthen joint efforts in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The two sides exchanged views on terror threats in their respective countries and regions. These were decided at the 4th Meeting of the India-Egypt Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism was held on 30 April in Cairo. The two delegations were led by Ambassador K. D. Dewal, Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism), Ministry of External Affairs and Ambassador Walid Al-Fiqi, Director of the Department of Counter Terrorism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt and included representatives of various agencies from both countries. Both sides discussed ways to strengthen areas of cooperation to counter new and emerging challenges such as use of technology for terrorist purposes and financing of terrorism, including crypto currencies, unmanned aerial systems and misuse of cyber space by terrorists for spreading terrorist propaganda. The two sides agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in anti-money laundering efforts, drug trafficking and organized crime. Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in training and capacity building, cyber security, use of AI for counter terrorism, exchange of best practices and information sharing. Live Events The two sides also discussed strengthening of multilateral cooperation in counter terrorism including in the United Nations, BRICS, the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF) and FATF. In this context, both sides exchanged views on how to enhance effectiveness of the GCTF and reiterated the commitment to early finalization and adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). Earlier, Egyptian President spoke with PM Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister dialled EAM to express solidarity following Pahalgam attacks.
