New Delhi: India voted against a resolution in the UN Security Council that exempts humanitarian aid operations from sanctions. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, stated that the country was concerned because it had evidence of terrorist organisations in its neighbourhood, including those on the Council’s list, repurposing themselves as nonprofits and civil society organisations in order to get around the sanctions. She claimed that these terrorist groups recruit fighters and generate finances under the cover of providing humanitarian relief.
In a subliminal reference to Pakistan, Ms. Kamboj continued, “India will call for caution and due diligence be used when providing humanitarian aid to groups that are prohibited by UN Security Council Resolution 1267 and who continue to thrive with full state hospitality in territories universally acknowledged by the international community as terrorist havens.”
India reaffirmed throughout the negotiations that under no circumstances should the cover of humanitarian aid intended to be offered by these exemptions be abused by outlawed terrorist organisations to increase their terror activities in the region and elsewhere.