Jaishankar: There must be zero tolerance for terrorism, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called for zero tolerance for terrorism at the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting in Manila.
• His statement followed the killing of a policeman on Amarnath Yatra duty in Anantnag, Kashmir.
• He condemned attacks on ships, mentioning incidents affecting Indian seafarers in the US-Israel-Iran and Russia-Ukraine conflicts.
• Jaishankar also addressed China's assertive behavior and territorial claims in the South China Sea, advocating for a Code of Conduct (CoC) compliant with UNCLOS 1982.
• India's contributions to maritime security, including the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) and Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA), were highlighted.

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Detailed Insights:

• The Minister's remarks on terrorism came after the first such attack in Kashmir since a major incident in Pahalgam last year.
• The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) provides a vital platform for discussing political and security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
• India emphasized the importance of safe and unimpeded commerce through international waterways, especially given recent attacks on vessels.
• A legally binding Code of Conduct (CoC) in the South China Sea is sought to ensure legitimate rights of all users, as per UNCLOS 1982.
• UNCLOS 1982 is the international legal framework governing all activities in the world's oceans and seas.
• India's maritime initiatives like IFC-IOR and IPMDA contribute to countering piracy, trafficking, and securing maritime trade across the Indo-Pacific.
• On the sidelines, Jaishankar discussed the West Asia crisis with the Omani Foreign Minister.

Key Concepts Involved:

• ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): A key platform for security dialogue and cooperation among 27 member states in the Indo-Pacific.
• United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982: An international treaty establishing a legal framework for all marine and maritime activities.
• Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR): An Indian initiative to enhance maritime safety and security through information sharing in the Indian Ocean.
• Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA): An initiative to improve shared understanding of maritime activities and challenges across the Indo-Pacific.