The External Affairs Minister’s made the statement ahead of Pakistan PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s address to the UN General Assembly

In a veiled attack on Pakistan, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said militants continue to find shelter in countries using terrorism as an “instrument of state policy”.

The Minister called on her counterparts from BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to condemn efforts to sponsor the menace.

Ms. Swaraj made the statement before Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s address to the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday.

“The horror of terrorism continues to haunt global peace and security. Terror groups draw sustenance from support systems in South Asia,” Ms. Swaraj said at a BRICS ministerial meeting.

Projects in Afghanistan

Meanwhile, India has announced it will take up 116 “high impact community developmental projects” in 31 provinces of Afghanistan, weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump sought New Delhi’s help in the economic development of the country. The decision was taken during a meeting between Ms. Swaraj and Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani in New York.

“Over and above these high impact projects, India has also offered assistance for six new projects under granting aid assistance from India. One of them is low-cost housing for returning Afghan refugees, road connectivity, national Park and economic development,” the External Affairs Ministry said.