Sushma Swaraj launches veiled attack on Pakistan at UNGA

The External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday hit out at Pakistan in a veiled attack at the United Nations General Assembly, by stating that terror groups draw sustenance from support systems in South Asia, and find support and shelter in countries which use terrorism as an instrument of State Policy.

"Terror groups draw sustenance from support systems in South Asia. They continue to find support and shelter in countries which use terrorism as an instrument of State Policy," Swaraj said at the BRICS Ministerial Meeting, United Nations General Assembly, while speaking on the threat that terror groups pose to global peace and security.

Calling all to step up combined efforts for reforms in International Monetary Fund (IMF) and in the United Nations Security Council to abate the efforts of such problematic nations as North Korea, Swaraj went on to condemn those nations that use religion as justification for terrorism and for sheltering terrorists.

"We must condemn efforts, including by States, to use religion to justify, sustain and sponsor terrorism against other countries," the EAM said in her address.

Swaraj also urged for a collective effort to disrupt terrorist networks, their financing and movement, and stressed that terrorist funding, their weapons supply, training, and political support must be systematically cut off.

"We must together work for early conclusion of negotiations and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) in the United Nations," Swaraj added.

To this end, EAM Swaraj conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's suggestion of an alliance between International Solar Alliance and New Development Bank, and concluded her address with the hope that the agenda comes to fruition soon.

"I hope we can work together to give this ambitious agenda practical shape in coming months," Swaraj said.

She also talked about North Korea that has been defying international pressure and continuing with its nuclear programme.

"The action and rhetoric of North Korea has been a source of growing global concern," Sushma Swaraj said.

North Korea on September 3 tested hydrogen bomb that sent a wave of panic to all nations.

With no effect of external pressures on North Korea, the United Nations, in a desperate bid to stop the country from unleashing the deadly missile, imposed strong sanctions targeting its remaining major exports and reducing about 30 percent of oil provided to it.