Shashi Tharoor’s ‘Bravo’ as India abstains in this UN vote

New Delhi:

Congressman Shashi Tharoor on Saturday applauded India’s abstention from voting in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on a resolution that exempts humanitarian aid efforts from sanctions.

Speaking to social media, Tharoor voiced his full agreement with India’s reservations which led to his abstention and added that there was no need to look far across the border to find evidence to back up what India’s top UN ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said in her statement.

While understanding the humanitarian concerns underlying the resolution, I fully share India’s reservations that prompted its abstention. We don’t have to look far across the border to find supporting evidence @ruchirakambojthe words. Well done, @IndiaUNNewYork@DrSJaishankarhttps://t.co/muwm3TsOzm

—Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 10, 2022

“While understanding the humanitarian concerns behind the resolution, I fully agree with India’s reservations that prompted its abstention. We don’t have to look far across the border for evidence to back up the words of @ruchirakamboj. Bravo, @IndiaUNNewYork @DrSJaishankar,” Tharoor tweeted.

The draft resolution to exempt humanitarian relief efforts from sanctions, introduced by the United States and Ireland, was adopted by 14 members of the 15-member Council.

In the explanation of vote, India’s permanent representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, said India’s concerns had been triggered by proven examples of terrorist groups, including Pakistan-based terrorist groups. , Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, “taking full advantage of these exclusionary humanitarian actions and flouting sanctions regimes.”

Kamboj said, “There have been several instances of terrorist groups in our neighborhood reincarnating into humanitarian organizations and civil society groups precisely to evade sanctions. These terrorist organizations use the umbrella of the humanitarian aid space to raise funds and recruit fighters.

In a subliminal reference to Pakistan, Kamboj continued, “India will urge caution and due diligence when providing humanitarian assistance to groups banned by UN Security Council Resolution 1267, who continue to thrive with total state hospitality in territories universally recognized by the international community as havens for terrorists.

The UNSC approved the resolution exempting humanitarian aid from all current and future UN sanctions regimes, a vote the United States hailed as “historic” that will save lives and solve long-standing problems for sanctions impeding the delivery of aid.

The draft resolution is adopted by 14 votes for, zero against and one absence.

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