A recent fatal blast near the iconic Red Fort in New Delhi has propelled India to demand decisive action from the UN Security Council, calling for an unwavering zero-tolerance policy on illicit weapons. India’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, directly addressed the council, highlighting the critical link between cross-border terrorism and the proliferation of trafficked arms, including the alarming use of drones. He pointed out that terrorist organizations are sustained by external funding and weapon supplies. The incident, which resulted in nine fatalities and multiple injuries, intensified India’s long-standing concerns about illicit arms. During the UN Security Council’s Open Debate on Small Arms, Ambassador Harish emphasized how small arms and light weapons fuel armed groups globally, stressing that they are unsustainable without external support. India advocated for enhanced international cooperation to intercept weapon diversions, disrupt trafficking routes, and improve border vigilance. The ambassador also underscored the importance of rigorous enforcement of UN arms embargoes as a key measure to curb weapon flow into volatile regions. He further noted that tackling this complex issue requires a dual approach of security measures and developmental initiatives, supported by strong national laws and effective data management. India’s commitment to global instruments like the UN Programme of Action (PoA) and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI) was reiterated, alongside a call for strengthened capacity building and information exchange to counter the threat.
