External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday inaugurated an exhibition titled ‘The Human Cost of Terrorism’ at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, underscoring the global need to confront and eliminate terrorism in all its forms.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Jaishankar stated, “Terrorism anywhere is a threat to peace everywhere.” He described the exhibition as both a tribute and a call to action, honoring the lives lost and forever altered by acts of terrorism.
“A tribute to those who were taken away from us and remembrance lives shattered by discouragement, by our gathering, we express solidarity with the families and the loved ones of the victims of terrorism. The campaign is a stark reminder of the urgency of our shared responsibility to combat terrorism in all its forms,” he said.
He stressed the emotional and symbolic depth of the exhibition:
“Today’s exhibition is not merely a presentation of images, videos and testimonies. It is a statement of our shared humanity. It is a gallery of human courage, each moment, each memory, each artefact, and every word tells the story of a life interrupted, altered or lost.”
Jaishankar reiterated India’s firm stance on terrorism, referencing the recent UN Security Council condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack, and called for international consensus on anti-terror norms.
“The world must come to some basic concepts: no impunity to terrorists, no treating them as proxies, and no yielding to nuclear blackmail.”
The Minister strongly advocated for accountability for countries that sponsor terrorism.
“Any state sponsorship must be exposed and must be condemned.” He concluded by reminding attendees that “terrorism anywhere is a threat to peace everywhere.”
The exhibition is part of a broader effort by India to highlight the human impact of terrorism and push for global reforms that hold state sponsors accountable while ensuring justice for victims.