India has emphasized the need for decisive global action to combat terrorism, aligning with the ambitious commitment expressed by world leaders in the “Pact for the Future.” During a session at the United Nations, India’s Permanent Representative P. Harish highlighted the importance of matching the global ambition set forth in the Pact with equally robust global action.
Speaking on Monday, Harish stated, “We appreciate the strong message condemning terrorism in the Pact.” He went on to emphasize the importance of following this commitment with practical steps, saying, “On this, we would like to stress that ‘Global Action’ must now match ‘Global Ambition’.”
The Pact, adopted at the recent Summit of the Future, represents a significant global consensus on terrorism. It unequivocally condemns all acts of terrorism, regardless of their motivations or how the perpetrators might justify them. This clear stance challenges attempts by some countries, including Pakistan, to differentiate between terrorists and so-called “freedom fighters.” Such efforts have long hindered progress on the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), an initiative proposed by India 28 years ago but still awaiting adoption.
During the General Assembly session focused on “Strengthening the UN System,” Harish reiterated India’s leadership role in advocating for the Global South. He pointed out that India has worked diligently to ensure that the concerns of developing nations were reflected in the Pact. India’s contributions aimed at making the Pact more “human-centric” were particularly noteworthy, he said.
Harish tied the principles of the Pact to India’s national development vision, ‘Vikst Bharat@2047’, which seeks to transform the country into a developed nation by the 100th anniversary of its independence. He noted that while prioritizing sustainable development, India pushed for the inclusion of human welfare, food security, health security, energy security, and climate finance in the global agenda.
However, he also criticized developed countries for avoiding their responsibilities when it comes to climate action. “Evasion of climate action responsibilities by the developed undermines the growth prospects of the developing,” Harish said, underscoring the detrimental impact of such actions on the growth of poorer nations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also addressed these issues at the Summit, where he emphasized the need for reforms to ensure that the United Nations remains relevant. Harish echoed Modi’s call for reform, expressing disappointment that the Pact did not go far enough in addressing the critical issue of Security Council reform.
He pointed out that while the chapter on ‘Transforming Global Governance’ in the Pact was promising, it fell short of the ambitions held by many UN member states. Specifically, the majority of countries have been calling for an expansion of both non-permanent and permanent members of the Security Council, yet the Pact did not sufficiently address these demands.
“The inputs to the Pact from the Inter-Governmental Negotiations for Council reform did not go far enough in addressing the critical issues related to UN Security Council reforms and expansion,” Harish stated. He also stressed the need for text-based negotiations with a fixed timeline, which is a point of contention for several UN members.
Many countries, including India, have long advocated for the use of a negotiating text to guide discussions on Security Council reform. Such a text would serve as a concrete reference point, marking progress and helping to avoid circular debates. Yet, a small group of countries, including Italy and Pakistan, have consistently blocked the adoption of a negotiating text and have lobbied against its inclusion in the Pact.
Harish expressed India’s disappointment that these efforts to obstruct meaningful reform were successful, saying that more needs to be done to reflect the will of the majority of the UN’s members. He noted that the current system, which grants disproportionate influence to a few countries, is outdated and no longer serves the broader global community.
In addition to calling for Security Council reforms, Harish also highlighted the need for more inclusive global financial institutions. He pointed out that developing nations continue to be underrepresented in the governance of international financial institutions, and many of these countries face severe debt challenges that are not being adequately addressed.
Harish referenced the declaration adopted by G20 nations under India’s presidency last year, which converged with the goals of the Pact on key principles. The G20 declaration, like the Pact, called for reforms to make the international financial system more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient. It also advocated for stronger and more democratic global financial institutions.
“Both the G20 declaration and the Pact share a vision of reforming the international financial system to better serve the needs of all nations, not just the most powerful,” Harish said. He argued that it is crucial to ensure that developing nations have a greater voice in these institutions, as they are often the most affected by global economic instability and debt crises.
Harish concluded by reiterating India’s commitment to playing a leading role in global governance, particularly in areas that directly affect the Global South. He emphasized that India would continue to push for reforms that make international institutions more representative and accountable, while also addressing pressing global challenges such as terrorism, climate change, and economic inequality.
India’s message to the world is clear: global action must match global ambition. As new challenges emerge in areas such as cyber, maritime, and space, the international community must remain united and proactive in addressing these threats. The Pact for the Future provides a strong foundation for this work, but much remains to be done to ensure that the global governance system is truly reflective of the needs and aspirations of all nations.