UNSC Joint Briefing by the Chairs of the 1267/1373/1540 Committees to the Security Council (December 2, 2021; 3.00 pm)

Statement by Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

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I would like to begin by thanking Ambassadors Juan Ramón de la Fuente, Tarek Ladeb, and Trine Heimerback for their briefings. The three committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004) respectively, are the pillars of the Security Council’s counter-terrorism architecture.

Mr. President,

2. In last two decades, the Council has taken several measures to counter the threat of terrorism, including adopting landmark resolutions, including 1373 in 2001, 2178 in 2014, 2462 and 2482 in 2019 as well as 2593 during India’s Presidency of the Council in August 2021 to ensure that Afghan territory is not used for sheltering, training, planning or financing terrorist acts.

3. However, despite these efforts, the threat of terrorism continues unabated. The biannual reports of the Secretary General and Monitoring Team this year, continue to report expansion of terrorist groups in several countries of Africa. Recently, this concern has increased in our neighborhood in South Asia. India strongly condemns the attacks at Kabul, Kunduz, Kandahar, Naganhar and various other provinces of Afghanistan. Such acts of terrorism cannot be tolerated. These reports also highlight misuse of new and emerging technologies, such as social media and cryptocurrencies by terrorist groups for propaganda, recruiting cadre and raising and transferring funds.

4. The recent global survey (GIS) on implementation of the council resolutions 1373 and 1624 and adopted by the CTC on 4 November, also paints a mixed picture. In South Asia, for example, the 1373 survey mentions, the overall threat level remains high, with several States suffering terrorist attacks since the previous global survey in 2016. Al-Qaida and ISIL-affiliated terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Jaish-i-Mohammed and, Harakat ul-Mujahidin continue to remain active in the sub-region launching cross-border terrorist attacks on India. The survey also notes that the listed terrorist entities continue to raise funds to finance terrorism through front organizations, including the misuse of non-profit organizations, through a variety of means such as charity, donations, and crowd-funding.

5. We can no longer afford such gross neglect of international obligations by certain member states and they need to be held accountable for their actions. It is apalling that the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attacks continue to be at large till date and enjoy state hospitality. The international community must collectively call out and hold accountable such States that are clearly guilty of not just double speak but also of aiding and supporting terrorism, and wilfully provide financial assistance and safe havens. There should be “zero tolerance” against such selective approaches.

6. We appreciate the role of Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) and its Executive Directorate (CTED) in assessing and finding gaps in implementation of Council’s CT resolutions by the member states and facilitating technical assistance to those who need them. We look forward to assuming the chair of CTC next year and would contribute constructively towards effective implementation of the mandate of the Committee.

Mr.  President,

7. The UN sanctions regimes, including the one established by resolution 1267, are pivotal to the international efforts in preventing terror-financing, terrorist-travel, and access to arms by the terrorist organizations. However, implementation of these measures remains challenging. The recent report of the Monitoring Team (MT) regarding asset freeze exemptions procedures pursuant to resolution 2560 (2020), points to the lacunae of such measures by Member States, partly due to deficiencies in the existing guidelines of the Committee. We hope that the upcoming mandate renewal will address these deficiencies. It is critical that all sanctions regimes established by the Council ensure due process in their working procedures and decision-making. The decision-making process and listing/delisting measures should be swift, credible, evidence based and transparent. Besides, the Monitoring Team should examine the trans-border threat posed by Al-Qaida affiliates such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Harkat-ul-Mujahidin; and the linkages between these organisations and other listed terror networks objectively, and highlight them in their periodical reports.

8. The threat of terrorists acquiring weapons of mass destruction is no longer in the theoretical realm as shown by the recent report of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da'esh/ISIL (UNITAD). Therefore, preventing terrorists from acquiring these weapons should continue to be among the key priorities of the international community. It is also reflected in the consensus adoption by the First Committee of the UN General Assembly of the resolution put forth by India on "Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction". Let me reaffirm that my delegation accords high importance to the UNSC resolution 1540 and the work of the 1540 Committee, including the ongoing review.  We would like to encourage all steps towards timely completion of the Comprehensive Review by the 1540 Committee. We also recognize the role of the Committee in facilitating assistance to the member states to implement their obligations under resolution 1540.

Mr. President,

9. I would like to conclude by reiterating our full support to the 3 committees in their collective pursuit to address the threat posed by terrorism and possible illegal proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).

I thank you.