Amid growing global concerns over terrorism, India will seek early establishment of a United Nations convention on combating the scourge at the upcoming UN General Assembly session and emphasise there should be no selective approaches with regard to the problem.
At the 61st session of the UN General Assembly later in September to be attended by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, New Delhi will also push for reform of the world body, particularly that of the Security Council, and vouch for global nuclear disarmament.
India views the developments along Afghanistan's "south and south-east border" (Pakistan) as "disturbing" and will try to ensure that the UN maintains its focus on curbing the activities there that pose a threat to the entire world.
New Delhi will expect the world community to focus on the "continued deterioration" of the situation in and around Afghanistan and pay attention to "free movement of Al Qaeda elements along the south and south-eastern" border of Afghanistan, official sources said in New Delhi on Wednesday.
In this regard, India will press for early conclusion of negotiations on the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, which is intended to strengthen global efforts to fight the menace.
The original draft of the convention was moved by India in 1996 and negotiations are going on on it since then.
The discussions have been dragging on due to various reasons, including lack of consensus on the definition of terrorism.
Negotiations on it are now at an advance stage and whatever work is left is hoped to be completed as early as possible, the sources said.
Establishment of the convention is a "highly politicised subject" and various countries have different approaches with regard to it.
India, which has maintained that there can be no cause that justifies terrorism, will seek to re-assert this at the world forum in the backdrop of growing realisation in the international community that terrorism needs to be fought in all its forms.
New Delhi will emphasise that there should be no selective approach while fighting terrorism whatever be the motive, the sources said.
With regard to UN reform, another priority area, India hopes the upcoming session will "stimulate" actions and discussions leading to early restructuring of the world body.
New Delhi insists that any reform of the UN would remain "piece-meal" and "incomplete" till the Security Council is restructured.
India wants expansion of the Security Council, both in permanent and non-permanent categories, and will continue to work with countries which have genuine desire for the reform of the UN.
New Delhi feels that all wings of the UN need to be reformed to make it more effective, efficient and responsive to developing countries who constitute majority in the world body.
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