India hosts counter-terror meet on Mumbai attacks anniversary

Terming money the lifeblood of terrorism, Indian Minister S Jaishankar has highlighted how terrorists continue to get financial resources to maintain their organizational functions. He said the reality that terrorism continues to exist and expand points to an underlying truth.

Ahead of the 14th anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai attacks in November, India is hosting the two-day anti-terrorism meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) starting October 28. The key UNSC meeting, under New Delhi's chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), is taking place at one of the main sites that saw the dastardly terror attacks - the Taj Hotel in Mumbai.

Speaking before the Informal Briefing of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, Jaishankar said: "We all know that money is the lifeblood of terrorism. Terrorist organizations require funds and resources to maintain their organizational functions and undertake activities. The reality that terrorism continues to exist and expand points to an underlying truth: that terrorism continues to get the necessary financial resources to thrive."

"A key aspect of combating terrorism is to effectively curb terror financing. Today, the Counter-Terrorism Committee will also be hearing from experts on countering the financing of terrorism in the local & regional context," he said.

On November 26, 2008, 10 terrorists trained by the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) carried out a series of coordinated attacks against multiple targets in Mumbai, killing 166 people.
Jaishnkar said one of the terrorists was captured alive, prosecuted and convicted by India but key conspirators and planners of the 26/11 attacks continue to remain protected.

The minister said that when it comes to proscribing some of these terrorists, the UN Security Council has regrettably been unable to act in some cases because of political considerations.

"This undermines our collective credibility and our collective interests."

"However, it's incumbent on us, as responsible members of the international community to remember that trauma and to persevere in our efforts to bring the perpetrators of terrorism to justice. We owe this to every victim of terrorism across the world," he added.

(ANI)