Regional security, climate change in focus for Indian PM Modi at UN, Quad

Amid concerns over regional security and stability due to the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the United States to attend the first-ever in-person Quad Leaders Summit hosted by President Joe Biden. PM Modi will address the annual high-level UN General Assembly session in New York.

This comes amid the changing political situation in Afghanistan that threatens regional stability. PM Modi is likely to discuss Afghanistan, COVID-19, climate change, the Indo-Pacific, terrorism, and other issues with President Biden. It would be the first time PM Modi visiting the US after President Joe Biden assumed office.

India has urged the world leaders at different forums to adopt a unified approach to the Taliban. For that, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is holding several bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA meeting prior to PM Modi's scheduled visit to the US.

Alongside, the 76th session of UNGA commenced on September 14, and the high-level meet will be starting on September 22 in the US, in a hybrid format.

India's Permanent Representative to United Nations TS Tirumurti said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) would be one of the most awaited among the world leaders on September 25.

Talking about the importance of India addressing the UNGA at this crucial juncture, Tirumurti said, "There is an expectation that India as a leading voice for developing world as well as the member of Security Council will use its voice to take up global issues such as climate change, Sustainable Development Goals, equitable and affordable access to vaccines, poverty eradication and economic recovery, women's empowerment and their participation in government structures, combating terrorism, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, UNSC reforms etc."

(ANI)