The usage of terrorism as an "instrument of statecraft" is simply unacceptable, and it can never be justified or rationalised, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday and flagged that it continues because "not all states really display zero tolerance" to the menace.
Despite history holding so many lessons on it, "some still allow political calculations to take precedence", he said in his address at an event here without naming any country.
At an event held here to mark the 75th anniversary of Chinmaya Mission, he underlined the importance of peace, especially amid the ongoing conflicts in the world.
"Let us consider the indivisibility of peace. Now, war anywhere threatens peace everywhere," the Union minister said.
He cited the conflicts in Ukraine and the West Asia region curently underway, and asserted that India expresses global sentiment when it says that dialogue and diplomacy is the only solution.
"Terrorism is another deadly threat to peace. Its usage as an instrument of statecraft is simply unacceptable. It can never be justified. It can never be rationalised. Yet, it continues because not all states really display zero tolerance," Jaishankar said.
The world must, therefore, develop sharper awareness about this common threat, and it must come together with stronger resolve and counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, he said.
“The UN must show leadership, not be a spectator to global crises,” he said, adding that the case for reformed multilateralism was growing stronger by the day.
Jaishankar highlighted the challenges confronting developing countries, describing the Global South as facing a “4F crisis” involving finance, fuel, food and fertiliser.
He said developed countries also had a stake in finding solutions and called for urgent steps to reduce risks in the international economy and provide nations with more diversified options.
“Market distortions through constriction and choke points only add to suffering. A genuine dialogue in this regard is overdue,” he said.
Jaishankar said artificial intelligence could transform the world but warned against leaving its development and impact in the hands of a few.
“AI promises to be the mother of all change,” he said, arguing that such a far-reaching technology required a responsible, inclusive and human-centric approach.
He said India supported a broader perspective on AI, given its universal applicability and potential consequences for societies worldwide.
Jaishankar also stressed that progress and prosperity were inseparable, saying the world could not advance while large sections of humanity remained deprived.