United Nations: India delivered a scathing rebuttal to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he once again raised the Kashmir issue. India, exercising its right of reply, firmly denounced Pakistans accusations, accusing it of harboring and promoting terrorism in the region.Pakistans use of terrorism condemnedIn her response, Indian diplomat Bhavika Mangalanandan blasted Pakistan for its history of using terrorism as a political weapon against its neighbors, particularly India. She remarked that Pakistans attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of Jammu and Kashmir, an integral part of India, have always relied on violent means.As the world knows, Pakistan has long employed cross-border terrorism as a weapon against its neighbors, Mangalanandan stated. 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.She further emphasized that Pakistans rhetoric on democracy and political freedoms was hypocritical, considering the countrys history of rigged elections and political instability.Sharifs comments on Kashmir and PalestineSharifs speech compared the situation in Jammu and Kashmir to the Palestinian struggle, calling on India to reverse its decision to abrogate Article 370, which had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. He urged India to hold dialogues in line with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.However, India rejected these claims and reiterated its firm position that terror and talks cannot go together. India also dismissed Sharifs comments on strategic restraint, emphasizing that Pakistans cross-border terrorism would invite serious repercussions.Criticism of Pakistans human rights recordIndia did not shy away from pointing out Pakistans own glaring human rights abuses, including the 1971 genocide and the ongoing persecution of minorities in the country. The Indian diplomat noted that Pakistan, a country once linked to terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden, lacked credibility on issues of human rights and intolerance.The world can see for itself what Pakistan really is, Mangalanandan said. She added that Pakistans continuous efforts to distort facts and propagate lies would not alter the truth.India stands firmIndia also criticized Sharifs comments about the massive expansion of Indian military capabilities, calling it a deliberate attempt to distort facts and create a false narrative. Sharif had also expressed concerns about rising Islamophobia and the subjugation of Muslims in India, blaming what he called a Hindu supremacist agenda. However, India dismissed these comments as baseless and politically motivated.
