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Time of India
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
India, Cyprus 'unequivocally' condemn terrorism; agree to deepen defence, security cooperation
Cyprus on Monday extended "unwavering support" to India in its fight against cross-border terrorism as the two countries "unequivocally" condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including international and cross-border terrorism. A joint declaration issued after wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said the two sides "reaffirmed their shared commitment to countering hybrid threats that undermine peace and stability". "Cyprus expressed solidarity and unwavering support to India in its fight against cross-border terrorism. The two leaders strongly condemned the gruesome killing of civilians in the recent heinous terrorist attacks in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, India," the declaration said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo "They reiterated their zero-tolerance approach to terrorism, rejecting any justification for such acts, under any circumstances. They emphasized that those responsible for the attacks should be held accountable," it added. Terrorists killed 26 civilians in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. Live Events "Cyprus and India unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including international and cross-border terrorism, and reaffirmed their shared commitment to countering hybrid threats that undermine peace and stability," the joint declaration said. It said the two leaders urged all States to respect the sovereignty of other nations and condemned cross-border terrorism in all its forms. "They called for the disruption of terrorism financing networks, elimination of safe havens, dismantling of terrorist infrastructure, and bringing perpetrators of terrorism to justice swiftly," it added. Emphasising the need for a comprehensive, coordinated, and sustained approach to combatting terrorism across borders, the two leaders underscored the importance of working collaboratively, bilaterally and with the multilateral system, the declaration said. Modi reached Cyprus on Sunday on the first leg of his three-nation tour. This is his first foreign visit since India carried out Operation Sindoor under which the Indian armed forces carried out strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7 in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack. "Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening multilateral efforts to combat terrorism and called for the expeditious finalization and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the UN framework," the declaration said. It said that they urged for concerted actions against all UN- and EU-designated terrorists and terrorist entities, associated proxy groups, facilitators, and sponsors, including terrorists under the 1267 UNSC Sanctions Committee . They reiterated their strong commitment to continue taking active measures to disrupt terrorist financing channels including through the UN and Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the statement said. The two leaders stressed the importance of enhancing strategic autonomy, defence readiness, and defence capabilities in the wake of emerging challenges within the international security environment. "They agreed to deepen their defence and security cooperation, including through collaboration between their respective defence industries, with a special focus on cybersecurity and emerging technologies," it said. Cyprus and India "expressed their strong commitment to the resumption of UN-facilitated efforts to achieve a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Cyprus Question on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, in accordance with the agreed UN framework and the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions ," the joint declaration said. "India reiterated its unwavering and consistent support for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity of the Republic of Cyprus. In this regard, both sides emphasized the need to avoid unilateral actions as essential for creating a conducive environment for the resumption of meaningful negotiations," it added. While recognising Cyprus' role as a gateway into Europe and, in this context, its prospect to serve as a regional hub for transhipment, storage, distribution, and logistics, they welcomed the prospect of Indian shipping companies establishing a presence in Cyprus. The two leaders also discussed expanding cooperation to include the maritime domain and committed to strengthening collaboration in emergency preparedness and coordinated crisis response, it added. In light of ongoing global crises, both sides committed to strengthening cooperation in emergency preparedness and coordinated crisis response. Drawing on past successful efforts, the leaders agreed to institutionalise coordination in evacuation and Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. Modi's visit to Cyprus is the first by an Indian prime minister in over two decades. His visit marks a historic milestone and reaffirms the deep and enduring friendship between the two nations, it added. Noting that Cyprus and India share a strategic vision of serving as bridges between regions, both leaders underscored the significance of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) as a transformative, multi-nodal initiative that fosters peace, economic integration, and sustainable development. Looking ahead to Cyprus' Presidency of the Council of the European Union in early 2026, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening EU-India relations. Cyprus pledged to work towards the advancement of the EU-India strategic partnership during the Presidency, the declaration said. Both sides expressed readiness to support the conclusion of the EU-India Free Trade Agreement by the end of this year recognising its significant economic and strategic potential, it added. Recognising the growing strategic complementarity between Cyprus and India, the leaders committed to expanding economic ties through increased trade, investment, and collaboration in science, innovation, and research, it said. Both leaders agreed to promote collaboration in research, innovation, and technology, fostering stronger ties between startups, academic institutions, and industry, and supporting innovation exchanges in key sectors like artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and research, with a view to concluding a related MoU. The two leaders recognised people-to-people ties as a strategic asset and multiplier for deepening economic and cultural ties. The two sides will work to finalise a Mobility Pilot Program Arrangement by the end of 2025, it said. They agreed to explore opportunities for enhancing tourism and the establishment of direct air connectivity between Cyprus and India, as well as enhanced air routes via shared partners, to improve ease of travel and boost bilateral exchanges, the declaration added.
United News of India
16-06-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
India, Cyprus call for concerted action against cross-border terrorism
Nicosia (Cyprus), June 16 (UNI) India and Cyprus on Monday called for disruption of terrorism financing networks, elimination of safe havens, dismantling of terrorist infrastructure and bringing perpetrators of terrorism to justice swiftly while Cyprus strongly condemned the gruesome killing of civilians by terrorists in Pahalgam. The two countries emphasised the need for a comprehensive, coordinated and sustained approach to combatting cross-border terrorism and underscored the importance of working collaboratively, bilaterally and with the multilateral system to eliminate the scourge. In a joint declaration issued after talks between Prime Minister Narendera Modi and Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides here, the two countries reiterated zero-tolerance approach to terrorism, rejecting any justification for such acts under any circumstances. They emphasized that those responsible for the attacks should be held accountable while Cyprus expressed solidarity and unwavering support to India in its fight against cross-border terrorism. Prime Minister Modi is currently visiting Cyprus as part of his three-nation tour, primarily to attend the 51st G-7 Summit in Canada. The two leaders urged all States to respect the sovereignty of other nations and condemned cross-border terrorism in all its forms. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening multilateral efforts to combat terrorism and called for the expeditious finalization and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the UN framework. They called for concerted actions against all UN and EU-designated terrorists and terrorist entities, associated proxy groups, facilitators and sponsors, including terrorists under 1267 UNSC Sanctions Committee. They unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including international and cross-border terrorism and reaffirmed their shared commitment to countering hybrid threats that undermine peace and stability. They reiterated their strong commitment to continue taking active measures to disrupt terrorist financing channels including through the UN and Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Both leaders discussed the need for reform of the United Nations Security Council, including ways to make it more effective, efficient, and representative of the contemporary geopolitical challenges. The two leaders expressed support to forward movement in the Intergovernmental Negotiations on United Nations Security Council reform, and reiterated their commitment to make continuous efforts to move towards text-based negotiations. Cyprus reiterated its support for the enhancement of the representative character of the United Nations Security Council expansion with India as a permanent member in an expanded United Nations Security Council. They also agreed to engage in close cooperation and support each other at the United Nations including supporting each other's candidacies to multilateral forums. Acknowledging emerging challenges within the international security environment, the leaders stressed the importance of enhancing strategic autonomy, defence readiness and defence capabilities. They agreed to deepen their defence and security cooperation, including through collaboration between their respective defence industries, with a special focus on cybersecurity and emerging technologies. Recognizing both India and Cyprus as maritime nations with deep-rooted naval traditions, the two leaders discussed expanding cooperation to include the maritime domain and encourage more regular port calls by Indian naval vessels exploring opportunities for joint maritime training and exercises to enhance maritime domain awareness and regional security. In that vein, and in light of ongoing global crises, both sides committed to strengthening cooperation in emergency preparedness and coordinated crisis response. Drawing on past successful efforts, the leaders agreed to institutionalize coordination in evacuation and Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. Earlier the President of Cyprus warmly welcomed the Prime Minister Modi. Prime Minister Modi's visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Cyprus in over two decades, marks a historic milestone and reaffirms the deep and enduring friendship between the two nations. The visit celebrates not only a shared history, but a forward-looking partnership, rooted in a joint strategic vision and mutual trust and respect. The two leaders held wide-ranging discussions on bilateral, regional, and global issues, underscoring the growing breadth and depth of cooperation between Cyprus and India. They welcomed recent progress in economic, technological, and people-to-people ties, reflective of the dynamic and evolving nature of the relationship. Acknowledging the increasing alignment of their values, interests, international outlook and vision, both sides expressed determination to further advancing this partnership across key sectors. They expressed commitment to deepening their cooperation as trusted and indispensable partners contributing to regional and global peace, prosperity and stability. UNI RB PRS
United News of India
16-06-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
India, Cyprus call for action against cross-border terrorism, Cyprus condemns Pahalgam attack
Nicosia (Cyprus)/New Delhi, June 16 (UNI) India and Cyprus on Monday called for disruption of terrorism financing networks, elimination of safe havens, dismantling of terrorist infrastructure and bringing perpetrators of terrorism to justice swiftly, while Cyprus strongly condemned the gruesome killing of civilians by terrorists in Pahalgam. The two countries also emphasised the need for a comprehensive, coordinated and sustained approach to combatting cross-border terrorism and underscored the importance of working collaboratively, bilaterally and with the multilateral system to eliminate the scourge. In a Joint Declaration issued after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides here, the two countries reiterated zero-tolerance approach to terrorism, rejecting any justification for such acts under any circumstances. They emphasised that those responsible for the attacks should be held accountable while Cyprus expressed solidarity and unwavering support to India in its fight against cross-border terrorism. Prime Minister Modi is currently visiting Cyprus as part of his three-nation tour, primarily to attend the 51st G-7 Summit in Canada. The two leaders urged all States to respect the sovereignty of other nations. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening multilateral efforts to combat terrorism and called for the expeditious finalization and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the UN framework. They called for concerted actions against all UN and EU-designated terrorists and terrorist entities, associated proxy groups, facilitators and sponsors, including terrorists under 1267 UNSC Sanctions Committee. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to countering hybrid threats that undermine peace and stability. They reiterated their strong commitment to continue taking active measures to disrupt terrorist financing channels including through the UN and Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Both Leaders discussed the need for reform of the United Nations Security Council, including ways to make it more effective, efficient, and representative of the contemporary geopolitical challenges. The two Leaders expressed support to forward movement in the Intergovernmental Negotiations on United Nations Security Council reform, and reiterated their commitment to make continuous efforts to move towards text-based negotiations. Cyprus reiterated its support for the enhancement of the representative character of the United Nations Security Council expansion with India as a permanent member in an expanded United Nations Security Council. They also agreed to engage in close co-operation and support each other at the United Nations including supporting each other's candidacies to multilateral forums. Acknowledging emerging challenges within the international security environment, the leaders stressed the importance of enhancing strategic autonomy, defence readiness and defence capabilities. They agreed to deepen their defence and security cooperation, including through collaboration between their respective defence industries, with a special focus on cybersecurity and emerging technologies. Recognizing both India and Cyprus as maritime nations with deep-rooted naval traditions, the two leaders discussed expanding cooperation to include the maritime domain and encourage more regular port calls by Indian naval vessels exploring opportunities for joint maritime training and exercises to enhance maritime domain awareness and regional security. In that vein, and in light of ongoing global crises, both sides committed to strengthening cooperation in emergency preparedness and coordinated crisis response. Drawing on past successful efforts, the leaders agreed to institutionalize coordination in evacuation and Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. Earlier the President of Cyprus warmly welcomed the Prime Minister Modi. Prime Minister Modi's visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Cyprus in over two decades, marks a historic milestone and reaffirms the deep and enduring friendship between the two nations. The visit celebrates not only a shared history, but a forward-looking partnership, rooted in a joint strategic vision and mutual trust and respect, it said. The two leaders held wide-ranging discussions on bilateral, regional, and global issues, underscoring the growing breadth and depth of cooperation between Cyprus and India. They welcomed recent progress in economic, technological, and people-to-people ties, reflective of the dynamic and evolving nature of the relationship. Acknowledging the increasing alignment of their values, interests, international outlook and vision, both sides expressed determination to further advancing this partnership across key sectors. They expressed commitment to deepening their cooperation as trusted and indispensable partners contributing to regional and global peace, prosperity and stability. The two leaders underscored their shared commitment to peace, democracy, the rule of law, effective multilateralism, and sustainable development and reaffirmed their support for a rules-based international order, grounded in the UN Charter and international law, placing particular emphasis on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) with regard to freedom of navigation and sovereign maritime rights. The two leaders reaffirmed their unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations. They held detailed discussions on international issues, including the situation in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine. The two leaders also discussed the importance of upholding the global non-proliferation architecture, recognizing the value of India joining the Nuclear Suppliers group. The leaders expressed intention to strengthen coordination within international organizations, including within the United Nations and the Commonwealth, and agreed to work closely on implementing the 2024 Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration, highlighting ocean governance as a pillar of global sustainability and resilience. In this context, the inaugural Commonwealth Ocean Ministers Meeting was held in April 2024 in Cyprus, also marked the establishment of the Blue Charter Centre of Excellence to advance sustainable ocean governance and strengthen capacity across Commonwealth member states. The two sides agreed to hold regular political dialogue and to utilize existing bilateral mechanisms, inter alia those between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus and the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India, to streamline coordination and advance cooperation across various sectors. The above competent Ministries shall overview and monitor the implementation of the areas of cooperation included in the Action Plan that is to be prepared, in close coordination with the competent authorities of both countries. The Joint Declaration said both countries expressed strong commitment to the resumption of UN-facilitated efforts to achieve a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Cyprus Question on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, in accordance with the agreed UN framework and the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions. India reiterated its unwavering and consistent support for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity of the Republic of Cyprus. In this regard, both sides emphasized the need to avoid unilateral actions as essential for creating a conducive environment for the resumption of meaningful negotiations. The Joint Declaration said the both countries share a strategic vision of serving as bridges between regions and underscored the significance of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as a transformative, multi-nodal initiative that fosters peace, economic integration and sustainable development. Viewing IMEC as a catalyst for constructive regional cooperation, they reiterated their shared commitment to promoting stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider Middle East and emphasized the importance of fostering deeper engagement and corridors of interconnection from the Indian peninsula through the wider Middle East to Europe. While recognizing Cyprus' role as a gateway into Europe and, in this context, its prospect to serve as a regional hub for transshipment, storage, distribution, and logistics, the two leaders welcomed the prospect of Indian shipping companies establishing a presence in Cyprus, encouraging the advancement of maritime cooperation through joint ventures involving Cyprus-based and Indian maritime service providers as a means of further strengthening economic and logistical ties. Looking ahead to Cyprus' Presidency of the Council of the European Union in early 2026, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening EU–India relations. They recalled the milestone visit of the College of Commissioners to India, and expressed satisfaction on the launch of the first India-EU Strategic Dialogue and the progress already made in the priority areas identified during the visit including in trade, defence and security, maritime, connectivity, clean and green energy and space. Cyprus pledged to work towards the advancement of the EU-India strategic partnership during its Presidency. Both sides expressed readiness to support the conclusion of the EU–India Free Trade Agreement by the end of this year and expressed support for the ongoing work through the EU–India Trade and Technology Council. They expressed commitment to sustaining a forward-looking agenda beyond the 2025 Strategic Roadmap to deepen this key global partnership. Recognizing the growing strategic complementarity between Cyprus and India, the leaders committed to expanding economic ties through increased trade, investment and collaboration in science, innovation, and research. To advance cooperation, the two leaders noted they would welcome a Cypriot high-level delegation visiting India, including business representatives, as well as the organisation of a Cyprus–India Business Forum to promote investment opportunities. Both leaders agreed to promote collaboration in research, innovation, and technology, fostering stronger ties between startups, academic institutions, and industry, and supporting innovation exchanges in key sectors like artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and research with a view of concluding a related MoU. Recognising people-to-people ties as a strategic asset and multiplier for deepening economic and cultural ties, the two sides resolved to work to finalise a Mobility Pilot Program Arrangement by the end of 2025. The two leaders agreed that an Action Plan is to be prepared to guide bilateral relations between the two countries for the next five years under the supervision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus and India's Ministry of External Affairs. UNI RB RN
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pak-based groups linked to terror attacks: India at UN meeting
India raised the links of proscribed Pakistan-based terror groups Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and their proxies to terror attacks ranging from the 2008 Mumbai attacks to the Pahalgam massacre at a United Nations meeting in Vienna and called for the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. While delivering India's statement at the session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), Niraj Kumar Bansod, a joint secretary of the Union home ministry, emphasised that terrorism is an existential danger to global peace and security. Raising the role of Pakistan-based terror groups, he said: 'UN-proscribed terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and their proxies have orchestrated attacks on Indian soil, leading to tragic loss of innocent lives.' 'Incidents such as the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the attacks in Uri and Pathankot in 2016, the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing, and most recently, the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam where 26 tourists were shot dead, remain deeply etched in our national consciousness,' he said. India reiterated its resolve to eliminate all forms of terrorism and said it has been at the forefront of global efforts to combat the menace. 'We are signatory to 13 sectoral conventions on terrorism adopted by the United Nations, and we strongly advocate for the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism,' Bansod said. New Delhi first proposed the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the UN General Assembly in 1996, when it was dealing with Pakistan-backed terror in Jammu and Kashmir, and negotiations on the proposed treaty have been held up primarily because UN member states have not been able to agree on the definition of terrorism. The four-day meeting of the CCPCJ from May 19 was attended by more than 1,300 participants representing 134 member states, 64 non-governmental organisations, 15 intergovernmental organisations and 15 UN entities such as Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Interpol. The Indian side has stepped up efforts to expose Pakistan's continuing support for terrorism targeting India at such global meetings and mechanisms in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack of April 22. India's statement at the CCPCJ meeting said all forms of terrorism, 'irrespective of the motives behind terrorist act, can never be justified, and the perpetrators and supporters of such acts should be brought to justice'. This was in line with a statement issued by the UN Security Council calling for the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack to be held accountable. Bansod also said that India has been an 'active participant in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and other international platforms dedicated to countering the financing of terrorism'. The statement further highlighted that India has continuously strengthened its legal and enforcement mechanisms to counter the challenges posed by terrorism, illicit drug trafficking, cybercrime, corruption, and other transnational criminal activities. 'These issues are no longer confined by borders; they demand unified and decisive international cooperation,' Bansod said. Currently, seven teams of political leaders, parliamentarians and former diplomats are travelling across the world to inform key interlocutors of India's new approach to combating cross-border terrorism following the Pahalgam terror attack. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure on Pakistani soil. This triggered four days of intense clashes that ended when India and Pakistan reached an understanding on stopping military actions on May 10. Indian officials have also hinted that New Delhi will push for placing Pakistan in the 'grey list' of the FATF at the financial watchdog's plenary meet in June by furnishing evidence that Islamabad failed to enforce anti-money laundering and counter-terror reforms and made no headway in prosecuting UN-designated terrorists. At the meeting in Vienna, India also pointed to the growing threat posed by cybercrime and said the government has adopted an integrated approach to this evolving challenge. 'We have established a robust legal and institutional framework to prosecute cyber offences effectively. The creation of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has enabled seamless information sharing among law enforcement agencies and relevant stakeholders,' Bansod said.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Use international law to take on Pakistan-backed terror
Operation Sindoor has powerfully demonstrated India's intent to use kinetic measures to tackle terrorism emanating from Pakistan. In addition to executing 'hot pursuits', India possesses other potent non-kinetic strategies, going beyond regular diplomacy, to ensure that Pakistan is held accountable for its continued support of terrorism directed against India. An impactful approach that India has not effectively employed so far is the strategy of 'lawfare', or leveraging international law to confront adversaries to accomplish strategic and diplomatic objectives. Leverage terrorism conventions A key element of a lawfare strategy against Pakistan should be to deploy international law to highlight Pakistan's sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. This is especially important as India has led the process of adopting a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) at the global level. India and Pakistan are parties to numerous terrorism conventions at the regional and international levels. The primary regional treaty is the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism, while key international treaties include the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (ICSFT) and the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings (Terrorist Bombing Convention). These conventions obligate that states not only criminalise acts of terrorism under their domestic laws and prosecute the perpetrators but also refrain from financing such activities. For instance, Article 2(1) of the ICSFT explicitly classifies terror financing as a crime. Similarly, Article 6 of the Additional Protocol to the SAARC terrorism convention requires states to take measures to prevent, suppress, and eradicate the financing of terrorism. Pakistan has a long history of sponsoring, abetting, and funding terrorism against India. Following the terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008, India meticulously gathered evidence to demonstrate Pakistan's active involvement in those attacks, which Islamabad later acknowledged, albeit reluctantly. India needs to consistently publicise proof of Pakistan's role, which includes the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. Further, India should utilise all international forums to build a solid legal case against Pakistan for its violations of international law regarding terrorism suppression. India's move to have all-party parliamentary delegations travelling abroad to present India's case on Operation Sindoor is an ideal opportunity to do this. India should identify specific provisions in terrorism conventions, along with various United Nations Security Council Resolutions that sanction terrorism, and customary international law that Pakistan is violating, and highlight these publicly. Rather than mere diplomatic hyperbole, a clear and compelling narrative entrenched in international law, grounded in indisputable facts and supported by irrefutable evidence will significantly benefit New Delhi's fight against cross-border terrorism. Use the ICJ A critical aspect of many terrorism conventions is that they grant jurisdiction to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to enforce the treaties. For example, Articles 20(1) and 24(1) of the Terrorist Bombing Convention and the ICSFT, respectively, empower a country to refer disputes to the ICJ. These provisions, known as compromissory clauses, help circumvent jurisdictional obstacles in international law, which is based on consent. Thus, countries that are signatories to these treaties are bound by ICJ jurisdiction unless they make specific reservations. Ukraine, for instance, invoked such a clause when it sued Russia before the ICJ for violating the ICSFT. Given that Pakistan has been sponsoring and abetting terrorism against India and has not taken any action against terror groups operating from its territory, New Delhi has a compelling case against Islamabad under these terrorism conventions, which it can present to the ICJ — just as it did in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case. Hurdles to overcome However, there are two significant hurdles. First, Pakistan has not accepted the ICJ's jurisdiction under the ICSFT due to a reservation, which could hinder efforts to hold Pakistan accountable. Nevertheless, India can still file a case with the ICJ to draw global attention to the issue. India should put the ball in the ICJ's court to address Pakistan's jurisdictional argument. Second, and perplexingly, India has adopted a reservation about the ICJ's jurisdiction under the Terrorist Bombing Convention, while Pakistan has accepted the ICJ's jurisdiction for this convention. This obstacle can be overcome if India withdraws its reservation, allowing it to initiate proceedings against Pakistan at the ICJ for terrorism. The ICJ may likely interpret the provisions of the ICSFT and the Terrorist Bombing Convention narrowly, similar to its approach in the Ukraine vs Russia case decided last year. Therefore, India should have fool-proof evidence and devise its legal strategy accordingly. The dissenting opinion of judges such as Hilary Charlesworth in Ukraine vs Russia can come in handy for India. In any case, India should not be overly concerned about the outcome of the legal dispute. Instead, it should utilise the legal proceedings to assiduously promote a global narrative against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, aligning it with its national objectives. In sum, international law and courtrooms can also be used to combat terrorism. To accomplish this, India must build state capacity and mainstream international law in statecraft. Prabhash Ranjan is Professor and Vice Dean (Research), Jindal Global Law School, O.P. Jindal Global University. The views expressed are personal
