External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will embark on a four-day visit to New York beginning Monday primarily to attend a number of UN Security Council events including a briefing on terrorism that will be held under India's presidency of the powerful body. The  Ministry of External Affairs said Jaishankar will also preside over an open debate on peacekeeping at the UNSC.

His visit to New York is taking place in the backdrop of the Taliban's rapid onslaught in Afghanistan and the issue is likely to figure in his talks with UN officials. "The first event on August 18 will be an open debate on 'Protecting the Protectors: Technology and Peacekeeping' while the second event on August 19 will be a high-level briefing on 'Threats to International Peace and Security caused by Terrorist Acts'," it said in a statement. The MEA said both the topics are priorities for India during its UNSC innings.

"On 19 August, the external affairs minister would preside over a briefing session on the six-monthly report of the UN Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL/Da'esh, under the agenda item "Threats to International Peace and Security caused by Terrorist Acts," the MEA said. India began its two-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the UNSC on January 1 and it is holding the presidency of the powerful body for the month of August.

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