United Nations, Dec 16 (PTI) India has suffered immensely from cross-border terrorism by terrorist groups who use illicit weapons smuggled from across its borders, including through the use of drones, New Delhi's envoy to the UN has told the Security Council, in a veiled reference to Pakistan.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador, Ruchira Kamboj, made the remarks on Friday at the Security Council open debate on Small Arms.

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"Having fought the scourge of terrorism for several decades, India is aware of the perils of the diversion and illicit transfer of small arms and ammunition to armed non-state actors and terrorists," Kamboj said.

"We have suffered immensely due to cross-border terrorism and violence carried out by terrorist groups using these illicit weapons smuggled across our borders, including now through the use of drones," she said, in an apparent reference to Pakistan.

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Kamboj added that the increase in volume and quality of the arsenal acquired by these terrorist organisations "reminds us time and again that they cannot exist without the sponsorship or support of states."

India emphasised that it is important that the Security Council exercises "zero tolerance" to terror actors and their sponsors, their possession and misuse of small arms and light weapons.

Kamboj underlined that the illicit traffic of small arms and light weapons and related ammunition is a "key enabler" for sustaining conflicts by armed and terrorist groups.

"This necessitates the need for coordinated efforts by states to limit the acquisition of small arms and light weapons by such actors," she said.

She further said that international cooperation is essential to strengthen existing mechanisms for information exchange to identify diversion points, trafficking routes, customs control, and cross-border cooperation to prevent diversion and the illicit transfers of small arms, light weapons, and ammunition.

India "accordingly supports the redoubling of efforts at the national and global levels to strengthen the implementation of the UN Programme of Action and the International Tracing Instrument, including through national legislative measures and enforcement, export controls, information sharing and capacity building," she said.

Kamboj also stressed that UN peacekeeping missions could support host countries in addressing the issue of the illicit transfer of small arms and light weapons.

She said this could take place by strengthening the capacities of law enforcement and security agencies in the safe handling, upkeep and stockpile management of arms and weapons, including those that have been recovered from non-state actors.

Kamnoj reiterated that India attaches high importance to preventing, combating and eradicating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.

The G20 Leaders Declaration adopted at the Summit in New Delhi in September emphasises international cooperation amongst states to combat the illicit trafficking and diversion of small arms and light weapons, she said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)