India hits back at Pakistan PM over Kashmir statement at UNGA: ‘Hypocrisy at its worst’ | Latest news India

India, in a strong Right to Reply policy, on Friday criticized Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his statement on Kashmir in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), describing it as ‘hypocrisy at its worst’.

India on Friday exercised its right of reply in the UN General Assembly in response to Shehbaz Sharif raising the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in his speech during the General Debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.

Indian diplomat Bhavika Mangalanandan said at a session at the United Nations General Assembly that a country ruled by the military, with a global reputation for terrorism, narcotics, trafficking and transnational crime, has “had the courage to attack the largest democracy in the world.”

“This meeting unfortunately witnessed a travesty this morning. I am talking about the reference to India in the Pakistani Prime Minister’s speech. As the world knows, Pakistan has long weaponized cross-border terrorism against its neighbors. It has attacked our Parliament, our financial capital, Mumbai, marketplaces and pilgrimage sites. The list is long. If such a country talks about violence anywhere, that is hypocrisy at its worst. It is even more extraordinary for a country with a history of rigged elections to even talk about political choices in a democracy,” the Indian diplomat said.

“…The real truth is that Pakistan covets our territory and has in fact continuously used terrorism to disrupt the elections in Jammu and Kashmir, an inalienable and integral part of India,” Bhavika Mangalanandan added.

India warned Pakistan, saying the neighboring country must realize that cross-border terrorism against India “will inevitably have consequences”.

“It is ridiculous that a nation that committed genocide in 1971 and which even now ruthlessly persecutes its minorities, dares to talk about bigotry and phobias. The world can see with its own eyes what Pakistan really is. We’re talking about a nation that long harbored Osama bin Laden. A country whose fingerprints are on so many terrorist incidents around the world, whose policies are attracting the dregs of many societies to make it their home,” she added.

The diplomat termed Sharif’s comments on Kashmir “unacceptable” and said Pakistan will try to counter the truth with more lies.

“Repetition won’t change anything. Our stand is clear and needs no repetition,” Bhavika Mangalanandan said.

Pakistan has been continuously raising the Kashmir issue at various UN platforms even though it has not received any support for its statements. However, India has maintained that Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are and always will be an integral part of the country.

What the Pakistani Prime Minister said

Sharif, who addressed the General Debate of the 79th session of the UNGA on Friday, again raised the Kashmir issue, with references to Article 370 and Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani.

In his over 20-minute speech, he urged India to reverse the abrogation of Article 370 to “ensure lasting peace.” He also asked India to engage in dialogue for peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue, in accordance with UN security resolutions and the ‘wishes of the Kashmiri people’.

Sharif then drew a parallel between the Palestinians and the Kashmiris and said: “Similarly, the people of Jammu and Kashmir, like the people of Palestine, have also fought for their freedom and right to self-determination for a century.”

He also alleged that Muslims are being targeted in India and asserted that the escalation of Islamophobia is a disturbing global development. “The most alarming manifestation of Islamophobia is the supremacist agenda of Hindus in India. It aggressively seeks the subjugation of 200 million Muslims and the destruction of India’s Islamic heritage,” he said.