'Hypocrisy at its worst': India hits back at Pakistan PM over Kashmir statement
PTC News Desk: India called it a "travesty" that Pakistan, with "a global reputation for terrorism," had the "audacity to attack" the world's largest democracy and raise the issue of Jammu and Kashmir on the United Nations platform.
Bhavika Mangalanandan, First Secretary of India's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, criticised Pakistan's "hypocrisy" for bringing up Kashmir and questioning the Jammu and Kashmir election during India's Right to Reply at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
In a robust rebuke to claims made by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his address to the UN General Assembly, the Indian diplomat noted that Pakistan had used "terrorism to disrupt elections in Jammu and Kashmir".
"The truth is that Pakistan covets our territory and has continuously used terrorism to disrupt elections in Jammu and Kashmir, an inalienable and integral part of India. A reference has been made to some proposals of strategic restraint," she stated.
"This assembly regrettably witnessed a travesty this morning. A country run by the military, with a global reputation for terrorism, narcotics, trade, and transnational crime has had the audacity to attack the world's largest democracy. I speak about the reference to India in the speech of the Pakistani PM."
The Indian diplomat mentioned the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament.
"Pakistan has long employed cross-border terrorism as a weapon against its neighbours," said Mangalanandan. "It has attacked our parliament, our financial capital Mumbai, marketplaces, and pilgrimage routes. The list is long." "For such a country to speak about violence anywhere is hypocrisy at its worst. It is even more extraordinary for a country with a history of rigged elections to talk about political choices that too, in a democracy."
Delivering India's Right of Reply before the UN General Assembly, she stated, "There can be no compact with terrorism. In fact, Pakistan should realise that cross-border terrorism against India will inevitably invite consequences."
Earlier on Friday, Sharif said in his UNGA address that India should reverse the abrogation of Article 370 and engage in conversation with Pakistan to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir issue in a "peaceful" manner.
"Let me state in no uncertain terms, Pakistan will respond most decisively to any Indian aggression, therefore, to secure durable peace, India must reverse the unilateral and illegal measures it has taken since the 5th of August 2019 and enter into a dialogue for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people," he said.
- PTC NEWS
