India has always condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations
 
On October 28, 2023, India abstained from voting in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on the draft resolution submitted by Jordan as it did not condemn Palestine-based Hamas 
for its attack on Israel on October 7.
 
India's abstention during the UNGA resolution voting has served to reinforce the country's position over the years, condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Having borne the brunt of cross-border terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir as well as in Punjab by Pakistan-based and Pakistan-backed terror groups for several decades, India's stand has been clear, consistent, and unambiguous.
 
Here's a look at some recent statements by the country's top leadership which illustrate this point.
 
October 28, 2023
 
"We take a strong position on terrorism because we are big victims of terrorism. We will have no credibility if we say that when terrorism impacts us, it's very serious; when it happens to somebody else, it's not so serious. We need to have a consistent position".
 
- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Bhopal
 
October 13, 2023
 
“No matter where terrorism occurs, for whatever reason, in whatever form, it is against humanity. In such a scenario, we all will have to be extremely stringent all the time regarding terrorism".
 
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20), New Delhi
 
September 9, 2023
 
"We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including acts rooted in xenophobia, racism, or intolerance, as well as those perpetrated in the name of religion or belief. This recognition extends to all religions' commitment to peace, highlighting that terrorism represents one of the gravest threats to international peace and security." 
 
- From the G20 New Delhi Declaration, unanimously adopted by all member states due to India's efforts
 
June 22, 2023
 
"More than two decades after 9/11 and more than a decade after 26/11 in Mumbai, radicalism and terrorism still remain a pressing danger for the whole world. These ideologies keep taking new identities and forms, but their intentions are the same. Terrorism is an enemy of humanity and there can be no ifs or buts in dealing with it. We must overcome all such forces sponsoring and exporting terror". 
 
- Prime Minister Modi, Joint Session of the US Congress, Washington DC
 
November 18, 2022
 
Our country faced the horrors of terror long before the world took serious note of it. Over the decades, terrorism in different names and forms tried to hurt India. We lost thousands of precious lives, but we have fought terrorism bravely.
 
- Prime Minister Modi, 3rd ‘No Money for Terror’ Ministerial Conference, New Delhi
 
October 29, 2022
 
"Terrorism remains the gravest threat to humanity. The UNSC in the past two decades has evolved an important architecture built, primarily around the counter-terrorism sanctions regime to combat this menace."
 
"Despite this, the threat of terrorism is only growing and expanding, particularly in Asia and Africa, as successive reports of the 1267 Sanctions Committee Monitoring Reports have highlighted".
 
- EAM Jaishankar, United Nation Security Council's Special Meeting of Counter-Terrorism Committee, New Delhi
 
October 28, 2022
 
"Together, we should send out the message that the international community will never give up on holding terrorists accountable and delivering justice. 26/11 will never ever be forgotten".
 
- EAM Jaishankar, UNSC Special Meeting of Counter-Terrorism Committee, Mumbai
 
THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
 
Palestine-based Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israeli locations on October 7, 2023, firing at least 2,500 rockets into the country. Armed groups broke through the fencing around Gaza Strip and attacked Israeli settlements, killing hundreds of people including over 200 attending a music concert. The militants also took about 200 people, including women and children, hostage.
 
The Israeli Defence Forces have responded with their full might, initially using air power and then land raids to target what they say are locations of the Hamas leadership in the Gaza area.