New York [US], June 14 (ANI): Shambhu S Kumaran, Chairman of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) and India’s Ambassador to Austria, met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres in New York to discuss pressing global drug-related challenges. The meeting underscored the CND’s ongoing commitment to balanced, evidence-based, and collaborative solutions to the evolving global drug landscape.
In a post on X, the Permanent Mission of India in Vienna stated, “Ambassador @shambhukumaran, Chair of @CND_tweets, met with H.E. @antonioguterres, Secretary-General @UN, in New York. Reaffirmed CND’s commitment to balanced, evidence-based, and collaborative responses to evolving global drug challenges and discussed proposals to further strengthen institutional frameworks to address them.”
India assumed the Chairmanship of the 68th Session of the CND in March 2025, marking a significant milestone in its leadership on the global stage. Ambassador Kumaran is chairing the session as India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Vienna.
Highlighting the importance of the session, the Permanent Mission added on X, “India’s Permanent Representative, Amb @shambhukumaran, Chairs the 68th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. Reflects India’s growing presence in multilateral fora and underscores its active role in shaping global policies on narcotic drugs.”
The 68th session has brought together around 2,000 delegates from over 150 countries, including high-level participation from the Vice President of Bolivia, foreign ministers of Ecuador, Colombia, and Turkmenistan, as well as senior representatives from the Philippines, Italy, Uruguay, and Malta. Many delegations are led by top government officials and heads of national drug enforcement agencies.
India’s inter-ministerial delegation comprises key representatives from the Narcotics Control Bureau, Department of Revenue, Central Bureau of Narcotics, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
As Chair, India is advocating for more inclusive and effective global drug policies by bridging gaps between developing and developed nations. Its focus includes intensifying international cooperation, promoting evidence-based strategies, and addressing socio-economic consequences of drug abuse and trafficking.
India’s leadership at the CND reflects its expanding global footprint in multilateral diplomacy and its proactive approach to addressing complex transnational issues such as narcotics control. (ANI)
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