Sushma Swaraj UNGA address live updates: Look within, EAM tells Pakistan

9.27 pm: EAM Sushma Swaraj has concluded her address by reciting a verse. May all be happy; May all be healthy; May all see what is good; May all be free from suffering.

9.25 pm: On UNSC reforms: Early reform of the Security Council is an essential element of our overall effort to reform the United Nations, said India.

9.23 pm: On climate change: EAM says that India is deeply committed to the Paris Accord. PM Modi launched the International Solar Alliance towards this cause.

9.21 pm: On Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism: Swaraj asks: “If we cannot agree to define our enemy, how can we fight together?”

9.20 pm: On the menace of terrorism, EAM stresses that we must all introspect and ask ourselves whether our talk is anywhere close to the action we take.

9.19 pm: IIT vs LeT, IIM vs JeM, AIIMS vs HM: Sushma Swaraj shows mirror to Pakistan and highlights the glaring difference between India and Pakistan.

9.11 pm: Swaraj’s advice to Pakistan politicians: “I would like today to tell Pakistan’s politicians just this much, that perhaps the wisest thing they could do is to look within. India and Pakistan became free within hours of each other. Why is it that today India is a recognised IT superpower in the world, and Pakistan is recognised only as the pre-eminent export factory for terror.”

9.04 pm: Demonetisation was a courageous decision to challenge one of the by-products of corruption, the “black money” that disappeared from circulation: EAM Swaraj

9.03 pm: Highlighting PM Modi’s economic empowerment approach to eradicate poverty, Sushma Swaraj said: We are turning them from job-seekers into job-providers.

9.00 pm: India has displayed courage and leadership to take tough decisions which have launched interlinked process of sustainable development: EAM

8.57 pm: The complete eradication of poverty is the main agenda of the present government: Swaraj

8.55 pm: World is today facing challenges of increasing violence, terrorism, climate change: Sushma Swaraj

8.50 pm: Indian delegation at the 72nd United Nations General Assembly session in New York.

Indian delegation at the 72nd United Nations General Assembly session in New York #UNGA; EAM Sushma Swaraj to address shortly. pic.twitter.com/yq4xfPkzWv

— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2017

8.26 pm: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will begin her address to the United Nations General Assembly shortly.

12:30 pm: Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi urged United Nations to appoint a special envoy to Kashmri, as he claimed that the struggle of the people in the region is being “brutally suppressed’ by India. He went on to accuse India of indulging in terror activities against Pakistan and warned of a “matching response” if it “ventures across the LoC (Line of Control). Read More

12:15 pm: Earlier this week, Trump’s daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump met with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New York. The two woen spoke about women’s entreprenuership and workforces development in the two countries, during the meetin. “We had a great discussion on women’s entrepreneurship, the upcoming #GES2017 and workforce development in the US and India.” Read More

11:30 am: In her first bilateral meeting with Rex Tillerson, Swaraj strongly raised the issue of H1-B visa, which is most sought by Indian IT professionals. The H1-B Visa is a point of contention between the two countries, as Trump administration is currently reviewing the policy, believing that it is being misused by companies to replace American workers.

10:50 am: Earlier this week, Swaraj, reaffirmed India’s commitment to the landmark Paris climate change agreement. During a United Nations ‘Leadership Summit on Environment Pact’, the External Affairs Minister said India is willing to “work above and beyond” towards the pact to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Read More

10:30 am: In a meeting with foreign ministers from Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) countries, Sushma Swaraj condemed all forms of terrorism. Speaking in the meeting, Swaraj said, “India strongly condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. There can be no justification for any acts of terrorism.” She went on to add that India aims to improve India’s connectivity with SCO countries to build trust between the nations. Connectivity with SCO countries is India’s priority. We want connectivity to pave the way for cooperation and trust between our societies,” the minister said. Read More

10:15 am: Last year at UNGA Session, which took place on September 26, Swaraj raised the issue of global terrorism. Describing terrorism as the “biggest violation of human rights”, Swaraj asked who benefits from terrorist activities. “But it is important to ask – who is behind this and who benefits from it? Terrorists do not own banks or weapons factories, so let us ask the real question: who finances these terrorists, who arms them and provides sanctuaries?” Swaraj had asked. Click here to read

10:00 am: Recap of UNGA Assembly Session on Friday: Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi raised allegations against New Delhi of running a campaign of subversion and state-sponspored terrorism against Islamabad, during his UN address. India strongly replied, describing Pakistan as “Terroristan” and “land of pure terror”. Excercising its Right to Reply, Eenam Gambhir, who spoke on behalf of India, said, “In its short history, Pakistan has become a geography synonymous with terror. The quest for a ‘land of pure’ (Pakistan means the land of the pure) has actually produced ‘the land of pure terror’. Pakistan is now ‘Terroristan’, with a flourishing industry producing and exporting global terrorism.” Read More

9:40 am: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, on the sidelines of 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly, said that there has been a rise in threats and incidents endangering South Asia’s peace and stability. in her opening statement at the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Foreign Minister Meeting, she said, “It, however, remains at serious risk in the region. The number of threats and incidents that endanger South Asia’s peace and stability are on the rise.” Read More

9:30 am: On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Swaraj has had meeting with her counterpart from from Tunisia, Bahrain, Latvia, the UAE and Denmark. In an update about the meetings, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told reporters at a press conference that the focus was largely on bilateral cooperation. Swaraj also attended a BRICS Ministerial Meeting, and also met with Kyrgyzstan Foreign Minister.

9:15 am: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. The two leaders met on Friday.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a meeting in New York on Friday. PTI Photo

9:00 am: On the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly session, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met with US State of Secretary Rex Tillerson at the Palace Hotel, on the sidelines of the the United Nations General Assembly in Manhattan, New York on Friday. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed all aspects of bilateral relationships and the situation in the neighbourhood and the Indo-Asia Pacific region. Click here to read

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson meets with #India‘s External Affairs Minister @SushmaSwaraj in New York City. #UNGA #USAatUNGA pic.twitter.com/yHuiCEvQvC

— Department of State (@StateDept) September 22, 2017