Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has asserted that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and there can never, ever be a compromise with the unity and territorial integrity of the country. Addressing the 68th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, he asked Pakistan to shut down terrorist machinery on its soil.
India is committed sincerely to resolving all issues with Pakistan, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, through bilateral dialogue on the basis of the Simla Agreement.
However, for progress to be made, it is imperative that the territory of Pakistan and the areas under its control are not utilized for aiding and abetting terrorism directed against India. It is equally important that the terrorist machinery that draws its sustenance from Pakistan be shut down.
Dr. Singh reiterated that terrorism remains a grave threat to security and stability everywhere and extracts a heavy toll of innocent lives around the world.
He said state-sponsored cross-border terrorism is of particular concern to India, more so on account of the fact that the epicentre of terrorism in our region is located in our neighbourhood in Pakistan. Dr. Singh said he is looking forward to his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today.
We need to renew our commitment, especially here at the UN, for concerted, cohesive and continuing global action against terrorism. There can be no tolerance for states sheltering, arming, training or financing terrorists. Nor can they absolve themselves of the responsibility to prevent their territories from being used to launch acts of terrorism.
Talking about the need for Security Council reforms, the Prime Minister said it must be restructured to reflect current political realities. More developing countries should be included as both permanent and non-permanent members. He said, the need is to build up a new international consensus suited to today’s realities to make UN more legitimate and effective.
The 68th Session of UN General Assembly is being presided over by John .W. Ashe , former Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the UN, and is based on the theme “Post -2015 Development Agenda”. Addressing the delegates the Prime Minister pointed out that this theme is especially important as we deal with a lingering global economic slowdown and continuing volatility in financial markets.
He pointed out that the problems of over a billion people living in abject poverty around the world need to be attacked more directly. In India, we promote inclusive development in multiple ways. Legislation has broadened access to education and secured rural livelihoods. We are now building the world's largest programme for food security.
Digital technology is being harnessed to improve the delivery of public services and benefits to the people.
Expressing concern over the disturbances in West Asia, particularly in Syria , the Prime Minister said the increasingly lethal conflict in that country is not only a tragedy for the people of Syria, but also threatens stability and security in the region and beyond.
The use of chemical weapons must be condemned in the strongest terms. India supports strongly the elimination of chemical weapons material and equipment in Syria and believes that there must be a political solution to the problem.
Commending the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in initiating an Action Plan for Nuclear Weapon free world order, Dr. Singh stressed upon the need to strengthen efforts against nuclear proliferation and called for pursuing time-bound strategy for universal nuclear disarmament.
