India upbeat about getting CCIT passed in UN

Swaraj further said the gulf nations like UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have agreed on Indian definition of terrorism

Exuding confidence that the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) would be approved very soon, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday said one must not distinguish between good terrorists and bad terrorists. She added that India has put forth its concerns to China which had blocked a ban on Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Masood Azhar in the UN, preventing him from being put on the UN terror list.

Responding to a question from ANI, Swaraj said this act of Beijing acts as a hindrance in the global fight against terrorism.

"A terrorist is a terrorist. And a terrorist does not commit crime against a country, but against the humanity. I had put forth this point in front of China publically and also during the Russia India China (RIC) meeting," Swaraj said during a press conference here.

"I told them that you are rigid on your stand on Masood Azahar, Lakhvi in the 1267 committee and that this act of Beijing acts as a hindrance in the global fight against terrorism where we collectively want to fight against terrorism. So, we are urging all the nations to support our definition on terrorism," she added.

Swaraj further said the gulf nations like UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which earlier had different views with regard to the definition on terrorism, have agreed to our ideology which in itself is a great achievement for us.

"And the kind of support we are getting is immense as almost all nations are with us on our definition on terrorism," she added.

CCIT, a treaty proposed by India in 1996, aimed to ban terrorists and make it binding for countries to deny funds and safe haven to them.