External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the BRICS Ministerial Meeting in New York, United States.

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday once again urged the world to act against countries sponsoring terrorism and said "the horror of terrorism continues to haunt global peace and security".

"We must condemn efforts, including by States, to use religion to justify, sustain and sponsor terrorism against other countries," Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj said in a speech at the BRICS Ministerial Meeting on the sidelines of UN General Assembly.

In a veiled attack on Pakistan, Sushma said that the terror groups draw sustenance from support systems in South Asia.

"They (terror outfits) continue to find support and shelter in countries which use terrorism as an instrument of State Policy," she said.

Her statement comes ahead of Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's address at the UN General Assembly on Thursday.

"There is need for collective efforts to disrupt terrorist networks, their financing and movement," she added.

On terror funding, the minister said, "their weapons supply, training and political support must be systematically cut off".

She did not name any country but the reference was clearly to Pakistan.

The Union Minister also batted for "combined efforts for reforms in IMF and of the UN Security Council ."

She further highlighted the concern due to the North Korea.

"The action and rhetoric of North Korea has been a source of growing global concern."

Sushma also called for early conclusion of the CCIT while urging all the BRICS countries -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- to condemn efforts, including by states, to use religion to justify, sustain and sponsor terrorism against other countries.

The Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) was proposed by India in 1996 to enhance prosecution and extradition of terrorists.

In her speech, Sushma suggested an alliance between International Solar Alliance and New Development Bank.

"I hope we can work together to give this ambitious agenda practical shape in coming months," Sushma added.

Earlier in the day, Sushma told her counterparts from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) that there can be no justification for any acts of terrorism.

"India strongly condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. There can be no justification for any acts of terrorism," Sushma had said while addressing a meeting of foreign ministers of the grouping on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The SCO countries include China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan as its founding members. India and Pakistan joined the grouping as full members in June in Astana.



In Video: Pakistan is 'face of international terrorism': India at UNHRC