• International Relations

    Jaishankar to inaugurate “The Human Cost of Terrorism” at UN

    European Newsdesk Posted on

    New Delhi / New York / Washington D.C. — In a week marked by critical diplomatic engagements, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will inaugurate an exhibition titled “The Human Cost of Terrorism” at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Monday. Organized by India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, the exhibition aims to spotlight the widespread impact of terrorism on civilian populations, a theme India has consistently championed at global platforms.

    The event comes at a diplomatically charged moment, just one day before Pakistan assumes the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council. For New Delhi, the exhibition is not merely commemorative—it is a pointed reminder of the need for consistent global attention to state-enabled terrorism, particularly in South Asia. India has long raised concerns over selective global responses to terrorism, even as it continues to be one of its most affected victims.

    This messaging will carry forward as Minister Jaishankar heads to Washington, D.C. for the July 1 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the talks will include Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi. The meeting is expected to prepare the ground for the upcoming Quad Summit in India later this year.

    The Quad gathering takes on additional importance following the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting, where India chose not to endorse the final joint statement. The statement, shaped under Chinese influence, made no reference to the Pahalgam terror attack in April, which claimed the lives of 26 Indian pilgrims. The omission, and the broader trend of the SCO accommodating Pakistan’s narrative, has drawn criticism in New Delhi.

    In contrast, the Quad grouping—comprising four leading Indo-Pacific democracies—has increasingly focused on shared challenges such as maritime security, supply chain resilience, and counterterrorism. Officials say this meeting will help align priorities amid rising regional tensions, particularly in the wake of China’s assertiveness and a shifting global security environment.

    Since the last Quad ministerial, major developments have unfolded in the region. India’s retaliatory posture following the Pahalgam attack brought it to the brink of open conflict with Pakistan. Meanwhile, Israeli military actions aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear capabilities, supported briefly by U.S. forces, have altered dynamics in West Asia. While President Trump has reiterated his preference for diplomacy over confrontation, the administration has signalled its willingness to act decisively when core security interests are at stake.

    The upcoming Quad talks will be the first major foreign policy engagement since Trump’s return to office. For India, it represents an opportunity to reinforce its security concerns and strategic vision for the Indo-Pacific, especially in contrast to forums like the SCO, which have increasingly failed to address regional terrorism in a principled and impartial manner.

    The exhibition at the UN and the meeting in Washington may differ in format—but both reflect India’s broader diplomatic message: the fight against terrorism must be sustained, depoliticized, and globally supported.

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