External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will give a stinging response to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's "tirade" on Kashmir at the UN General Assembly and attack the country for using terrorism as an "instrument of state policy". "The whole world and the entire nation" is waiting to hear from Swaraj, who will deliver India's "vision document" for the 71st UNGA, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters.
With a focus on tackling terrorism, India will corner Pakistan, which used the world body forum to talk extensively about Kashmir four days ago, for being a "terrorist state". India made its sharpest attack on Pakistan on Thursday, calling the country home to the "Ivy League of Terrorism" which carries out "war crimes" and pitches for talks with a "gun in its hand". Outlining India's focus for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, India's envoy to the UN Syed Akbaruddin had said that terrorism is the "primary concern" for India as well as for nations across the world.
Swaraj will address the UN general debate and is expected to give a stinging response to Sharif's speech. "We are all looking forward to that," Swarup said. He did not elaborate on elements of Swaraj's address but said "I think the broad themes that Akbaruddin has outlined are definitely going to be a part of our presentation at this most important forum in the international community". Swarup said one can also expect "a continued focus from India on the theme of terrorism which is today undoubtedly the single biggest challenge to international peace and security".
Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar earlier said glorification of Burhan Wani, commander of the militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, by Sharif at the world forum is an act of "self-incrimination" by Pakistan.
He had also said it is "shocking" that a leader of a nation can "glorify a self-declared self-advertised terrorist" at a forum such as the United Nations General Assembly after Sharif hailed Wani - who was killed on July 8 by the Indian forces resulting in tensions in the Valley - as a "young leader" and the "symbol" of the Kashmiris' freedom movement.
First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir also made a strong rebuttal to Sharif's "long tirade" about the situation in Kashmir, saying it is ironical that a country which has established itself as the global epicentre of terrorism, is preaching human rights and talks about the ostensible support for self-determination.
Exercising India's Right of Reply, she told the UN General Assembly that shortly before Pakistan gave its "hypocritical sermons" in the world body, its envoy in New Delhi was summoned in the context of the most recent of the terror attacks in Uri that claimed 18 Indian lives.
Congress batting for Swaraj
The Congress on Monday extended support to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s ahead of her address to the United Nation General Assembly (UNGA) and expected the latter to give a befitting reply to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
‘We hope that she will keep her points forward with powerfully. Sushma is a good orator she will give a befitting reply and will respond on statements made by the Prime Minister of Pakistan and will describe how Pakistan has become a centre of terrorism from past 20-25 years,’ Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit told ANI.
Congress leader P.L. Punia asserted that a suitable reply is must to counter unrestrained statements of Prime Minister Sharif on Kashmir and hoped Swaraj would reply well.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Modi said, "A day will come when the people of Pakistan will go against their own government to fight terrorism. India has been successful in isolating you (Pakistan) globally, and we will intensify our efforts to make sure that you are isolated globally. The people of Pakistan should ask their leaders that India and Pakistan got freedom in the same year, but India exports software and your (Pakistan) leaders are exporting terrorists."
Last week, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, Eenam Gambhir, had said that the worst violation of human rights is terrorism. She said Pakistan is home to the "Ivy League of Terrorism" and a terrorist state that commits war crimes by using terrorism as an instrument of state policy.
Gambhir said what India and its other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan's long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond the region.
She had said India sees Pakistan as a terrorist state which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terror groups as militant proxies against it neighbours.
With inputs PTI and ANI
