United Nations, March 5 (NationPress) As a nation impacted by terrorism, particularly the latest incident in Pahalgam, India has committed to advancing the UN’s counter-terrorism agenda in a unified effort against this global menace.

“We emphasize the significance of the Global Counter Terrorism Strategy (GCTS) as a vital tool for international collaboration,” stated Raghoo Puri, a first secretary at India's UN Mission, on Wednesday.

During the Annual Ambassadorial Level Briefing hosted by the Office of Counter-Terrorism, he remarked, “Terrorism poses an existential danger to world peace and security. It transcends borders, nationalities, and ethnicities, presenting a challenge that the global community must confront together.”

Established unanimously by the General Assembly in 2006, the GCTS serves as a joint framework for combating terrorism and has been reaffirmed through numerous Assembly resolutions.

As it approaches its 20th anniversary in July, it is slated for review.

“India will remain resolute and actively involved in the consultations for the 9th review of the GCTS,” assuring full cooperation “during negotiations of this crucial UN initiative,” Puri stated.

New Delhi will leverage its experience “as a nation that has endured cross-border terrorism for over three decades,” he added.

“India is profoundly aware of the socio-economic and human toll of terrorism, particularly regarding its victims,” he emphasized.

“Just last year, we suffered a brutal attack by The Resistance Front, a proxy of LeT (the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba), a UN-designated terrorist organization in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the tragic loss of 26 innocent tourists,” he recounted.

He declared, “We must unite against ISIS (Islamic State terror group) and Al Qaeda along with their affiliates.”

Puri highlighted that during India’s previous term on the Security Council, as the Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee in 2022, “India worked diligently to incorporate these principles into the UN’s counter-terrorism framework and the broader dialogue on terrorism.”

“With foresight, India advocated for the Delhi Declaration, which was unanimously adopted by the Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee,” Puri noted.

This declaration serves as a proactive framework to counter the exploitation of emerging technologies by terrorists, such as drones, social media, and online fundraising.

Alexandre Zouev, the acting under-secretary-general for counter-terrorism, cautioned that terrorists “continue to adapt their strategies in response to counter-terrorism measures, resulting in a more complex and expansive threat landscape.”

The world faces significant risks as terrorists leverage technological advancements like drones, artificial intelligence, financial technologies, and even commercial satellite access, he stated.

“Their diverse financing methods and online exploitation are increasingly intricate to monitor and address,” Zouev added.