No country is immune to 'existential threat' of terrorism: Swaraj
What's the story
Asserting that no country is immune to the "existential threat" of terrorism, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today at Raisina Dialogue said the need of the hour is to ensure zero tolerance towards terrorism and those using it as an "instrument of convenience".
India speaks not just for itself but also for the cause of justice, opportunity, and prosperity around the world, said Swaraj.
Challenges
Terrorism comes first among all critical challenges world faces: Swaraj
Swaraj, while speaking at the New Delhi conference, said, "For us, transformation isn't just a domestic agenda but a global vision."
Talking about the "critical challenges" that confront the world, she said the first among them is terrorism.
"There was a time when India would talk about terrorism and it'd be treated as a law and order issue at many global platforms," she said.
Statement
'In this digital age, challenge posed by terrorism even greater'
"Today, no country, big or small, is immune to the existential threat, particularly terrorism actively supported and sponsored by states," Swaraj said.
In this digital age, the challenge posed by terrorism is even greater with more vulnerability to radicalization, she added.
As far back as 1996, India proposed a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at UN, but it remains a draft, she further said.
Information
Other threats: Proliferation of mass destruction weapons, climate change
Convention is still a draft because the countries cannot agree on a common definition of terrorism, she justified. Swaraj listed out the threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and climate change among the other major challenges facing the international community.