India plans to launch anti-terror drive at NAM
Ahead of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly,
India is planning a major diplomatic outreach in order to push through the ‘Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism’ (CCIT).
- In this regard, India is expected to launch a campaign during the September 13-18 Non Aligned Movement summit in Venezuela.
CCIT:
What is it?
It is a draft proposed by India in 1996 that is yet to be adopted
by the UNGA.
What does it call for?
- Universal definition of terrorism: no good terrorist or bad terrorist.
- Ban on all groups regardless of country of operation, cut off access to funds and safe havens.
- Prosecution of all groups including cross border groups.
- Amending domestic laws to make cross-border terror an extraditable offence.
- It also addresses, among other things, the issue of Pakistan’s alleged support for cross-border terrorism in south Asia.
- US + allies: concerns over definition of terrorism, including acts by US soldiers in international interventions without UN mandate.
- Latin American countries: concerns over international humanitarian laws being ignored.
- There are also concerns that convention will be used to target Pakistan and restrict rights of self-determination groups in Palestine, Kashmir etc.
