Don’t lecture the world on intolerance, India strongly reprimands Pakistan in UN

New Delhi: India has strongly reprimanded Pakistan in the United Nations. This rebuke has come after the speech of Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in which he/she raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. India has clearly said that Pakistan should be prepared to ‘face the consequences’ of supporting cross-border terrorism.

Old misdeeds brought back to Pakistan

This answer was given by India’s first secretary Bhavika Mangalanandan. he/she accused Pakistan of being involved in terrorism and said that spreading terrorism across the border has been Pakistan’s old policy. In fact, in his/her speech, Sharif had demanded India to restore Article 370. Besides, he/she also appealed for dialogue between the two countries. India ended the special status of Jammu and Kashmir by abrogating Article 370 in 2019.

‘Pakistan’s identity is terrorism and drug trade’

Bhavika Mangalanandan said, ‘This morning this gathering has witnessed a strange spectacle. A country run by the military, with a global reputation for terrorism, drug trade and international crime, has dared to attack the world’s largest democracy. The world can see for itself what Pakistan really is. She was referring to attacks carried out by Pakistan-based terror groups, including the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament and the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

‘Pak’s hand in terrorist incidents across the world’

Mangalanandan said that Pakistan would be involved in many terrorist incidents across the world. he/she said, ‘Perhaps it should not be surprising that their Prime Minister would speak like this in this House. Yet we must make it clear how unacceptable his/her words are to all of us. We know that Pakistan will counter the truth with more lies. Saying it again and again won’t change anything. Our stand is clear and there is no need to repeat it.

‘It is meaningless to talk to Pakistan’

India reiterated that unless terrorism is ended, it is meaningless to discuss any strategy with Pakistan. Mangalanandan said, ‘There can be no compromise with terrorism.’ he/she also mentioned Pakistan’s past, including harboring Osama bin Laden and its links with several terrorist incidents around the world.

What did the Pakistani PM say?

In his/her speech, Sharif had linked the Kashmir issue to regional peace. he/she had also alleged that India’s military expansion is against Pakistan. However, Mangalanandan pointed out that Pakistan has a history of interfering in Jammu and Kashmir through terrorism and disrupting the democratic process in the region.

‘It is ridiculous to lecture Pakistan’

India’s response went beyond terrorism to Pakistan’s internal issues. Mangalanandan accused Pakistan of human rights violations, referring to the 1971 genocide in Bangladesh and atrocities on minorities. he/she said that it is ridiculous for Pakistan to lecture the world on intolerance while its own record is bad.

Pakistan, exercising the right of reply, described India’s claims as baseless and misleading and reiterated its demand for holding a referendum in Jammu and Kashmir, as per UN Security Council resolutions.