On the 80th anniversary of the United Nations (UN), India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, expressed strong criticism of both the global body’s ineffectiveness and Pakistan’s role in protecting terror outfits. He pointed out that the UN’s operations have become increasingly polarized and gridlocked, especially when it comes to tackling terrorism.

Jaishankar specifically referenced Pakistan’s actions at the UN Security Council, where it attempted to shield the terror group responsible for the Pahalgam attack, underlining how this undermines the credibility of the UN’s multilateral approach. Although he did not mention Pakistan by name, it was clear that he was referring to the country’s efforts to protect the Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba, which claimed responsibility for the attack.

The minister also criticized the tendency of equating the victims and perpetrators of terrorism in the name of global strategy. He called out this “cynical” approach, especially when terrorists are shielded from sanctions, weakening the sincerity of those involved in counterterrorism efforts.

Jaishankar further emphasized that while the UN has failed to address critical issues like terrorism and development, there is still hope for its reform. He stressed that despite its flaws, multilateralism and the UN must continue to be supported in these challenging times.

Highlighting the challenges facing the Global South, Jaishankar pointed to the slow progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other issues like trade measures, supply chain dependence, and political domination. However, he concluded with a message of perseverance, urging continued support for multilateralism and the UN’s role in global peace and security.

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