Inconceivable for India that a world as vast and diverse as ours could be run by a small set of powers: Jaishankar

Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar on Wednesday said that India is a natural exponent of multilateralism, and believed that with the passage of time, the dispersal of power across the globe would be more equitable.

Delivering an address at the Second Raisina Dialogue organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) here, Jaishankar said, "India is a natural exponent of multilateralism. To an extent, this reflects our own domestic traditions of pluralism and diversity. Well before a multipolar world actually came into being, we believed in its desirability and even its inevitability. It was inconceivable for us that a world as vast and diverse as ours could be run by a small set of powers through alliances."

 

Dr. Jaishankar further said, "Over the years, other countries, including China, came around to this point of view. We were confident that with the passage of time and the economic revival of Asia, Africa and Latin America, the dispersal of power in the world would become more equitable. A lot of our diplomacy over the years has been dedicated to making that happen. When it was much more difficult, we have helped put together groupings of developing countries in different formats to make their voices heard on critical issues of the day."

"Our commitment to that approach remains firm. Today, as India's capabilities and influence grow, they are naturally on offer to this longstanding endeavour. In critical deliberations, whether it is on climate change or SDG, we are even willing to play a larger bridging role to develop international consensus," Dr. Jaishankar said.

"The big dangers confronting the world can only be addressed through multilateralism. Not all leading powers may willingly acknowledge this reality. But at the end of the day, there are real problems that wait for us out there in the world and serious expectations that we will do something about them," Dr. Jaishankar said.

Earlier, putting pressure on the world body for a permanent seat for India in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), S.Jaishankar said that "The pressures to reform the UN will only grow with each passing day".

Dr. Jaishankar said - "The democratisation of the international order is a particularly complex challenge and the emergence of multipolarity is just a first step".

He further said "The absurdity of the main multilateral decision-making body being more than 70 years old - and due for retirement anywhere in the world - is obvious to all except those with a vested interest."

"There can be no getting away from the myriad of global challenges that will eventually require a credible multilateral response," the foreign secretary said.

"Such tasks require patience, perseverance and determination and I can say with some assurance that we have them in full measure," he added.

Without making any reference to China which has been blocking India's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, a block of 48 countries that control the trade in nuclear technology and material, Dr. Jaishankar said, "Entrenched powers rarely give up privileges easily, even if they pay lip service to the deserving."

A meeting of the representatives of United Nations which has 193 member countries who form the General Assembly, had ended without a decision on reconfiguring the Security Council, which has 15 members who decide how to maintain international peace and security. The United States, Britain, France, China and Russia are permanent members and hold veto power.

Due to strong opposition of China, India failed to gain entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, a block of 48 countries that control the trade in nuclear technology and material.

It also opposed New Delhi's bid to place Azhar on the 1267 sanctions list that would subject him to an assets freeze and travel ban. China was the only member in the 15-nation UN body to put a hold on India's application with all other 14 members of the Council supporting. (ANI)

He also said terrorism remains the most pervasive and serious challenge to international security.

In an indirect attack on Pakistan, he said that SAARC was ineffective due to the insecurity of one nation.

The Foreign Secretary's assertion came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Pakistan must walk away from terrorism if it wants dialogue with India as New Delhi alone cannot walk the path of peace.

Addressing the second edition of Raisina Dialogue last evening, Modi said the world is going through profound changes and non-state actors are major contributors to spread of challenges faced by the world.

Prime Minister Modi said India believes in de-linking terrorism from religion and rejecting artificial distinctions between good and bad terrorism.