China’s veto on a US-led proposal to designate Sajid Mir, mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attack, as global terrorist under the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Regime is a case of politicising a global threat. It is the kind of move that hobbles multilateralism. The Mir veto is the third time this year that China stepped in to use its power to shield a terrorist, a move against India as much in support of Pakistan but also to flex Beijing muscle. India is right to point out that politicising the sanctions regime, to the extent of defending proclaimed terrorists, is neither without peril nor do they advance national interests or reputations.
As new challenges emerge, global priorities shift, but older challenges remain. Terrorism, shape-shifting as it is, continues to be a global plague. The international community must learn from the Russian invasion of Ukraine that eternal vigilance is the price for open societies and democracies. Taking the world’s eyes off the ball comes at a cost. The consequences, immediate and over time, may be felt most acutely by a few countries, but no country is spared. Despite the seeming lull, terrorism continues to prey on and feed off other crises confronting all countries, be it food, energy, cost of living or the impacts of climate change-induced extreme weather events.