In 2025, India must play the role of peacemaker

The New Year has brought a grim reminder of terror as a threat even as war rages in West Asia, Europe and elsewhere. India must push for UN reforms, global principles and peace

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When Neville Chamberlain gave this piece of advice after signing the Munich Agreement with Adolf Hitler in 1938, he also used the phrase "peace for our time." Now often cited as peace in our time, it was short-lived back then and is recalled now only with a sense of irony. Indeed, peace in our time has been the single most elusive aspiration of the post-war years. We only have to look at the New Year's Day terror attack in New Orleans, US, a city known for its love of music and as the birthplace of jazz. At least 15 innocent civilians were killed and dozens injured in an attack ascribed to a US citizen inspired by Islamic State (IS). To extremists, of course, there are no innocents-save for their 'own kind.' The relentless Israeli bombing of Gaza has killed children and babies too. Last year was crammed with war and conflict, the most egregious example of which was Israel's disproportionate reaction to terror strikes by Hamas that sparked off fierce but uneven warfare, with hostilities reaching Lebanon and Iran as well. I