India has hit back at Pakistan, perhaps most severely at the United Nations, branding it host to the “Ivy league of terrorism” that diverts billions of dollars in international aid to train, finance and deploy terror outfits as militant proxies against its neighbours.
Not long after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s harangue at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, raking up Kashmir yet again and glorifying slain terrorist Burhan Wani as the symbol of “Kashmiri Intifada”, India exercised its Right of Reply to excoriate him and Pakistan’s track record as a state sponsor of terrorism.
The counter, delivered by Eenam Gambhir, First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, sought to blast Sharif’s “long tirade” and “hypocritical sermons”, commenting it was ironical that a country which has established itself as the “global epicentre of terrorism” should be preaching the virtues of human rights and self-determination.
“The land of Taxila, one of the greatest learning centres of ancient times, is now host to the Ivy league of terrorism. It attracts aspirants and apprentices from all over the world. The effects of its toxic curriculum are felt across the globe,” said the Indian diplomat.
Highlighting the terrorist attack on Uri Army base that killed 18 Indian soldiers as the latest in a long series of Pakistani machinations, Gambhir said, “What we see in Pakistan, Mr President, is a terrorist state, which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours.”
“The worst violation of human rights is terrorism. When practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime,” the official said, adding, “What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan’s long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region.”
The Indian diplomat pointed out how Pakistani terrorist entities and their leaders, including many designated by the United Nations, continue to roam about freely and operate with state support, raising funds openly in flagrant violation of the country’s international obligations.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in New Delhi that India hopes that the Bill to designate Pakistan as a terrorist state by the two US lawmakers will be treated with utmost seriousness and the global community will take effective measures in checking Islamabad’s violent activities against other countries. “You will appreciate that it reflects the acknowledgement in the US Congress that a country to which the US had channeled so much aid is actually the epicentre of terrorism which has also targeted Americans and American interests,” said Swarup.
He pointed out how nearly 25 countries that have spoken at the UNGA so far referred to terror as the main threat to peace but Islamabad still remains in denial. He underlined that no other nation spoke on Kashmir to which Sharif devoted 80 per cent of his speech.
Besides, the dossier Sharif spoke of finds no mention in the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s statement, he said. Asked if India will produce a dossier on Pak activities, Swarup said India doesn’t need to produce a dossier on Pakistan as the whole world is aware of its role in promoting terror.
With tension between two sides escalating, India also hinted at relooking the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan. “There are differences on the treaty. For any such treaty to work, it is important there must be mutual trust and cooperation. It can’t be a one-sided affair,” Swarup said.
According to the agreement, India has control over Beas, Ravi and Sutlej rivers while Pakistan controls Indus, Chenab and Jhelum. However, Jammu & Kashmir has been demanding a review of the treaty as it puts the State in disadvantage of its rights to use the water of the rivers.
For his part, Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar, currently in New York for the UNGA session, slammed Sharif’s glorification of Wani, dubbing it an act of self-incrimination for a nation’s leader to lionise “a self-declared, self-advertised terrorist”.
During an interaction with the Indian media after Sharif’s address, Akbar said: “We just heard a speech full of threat, bluster and what can only be described as rising immaturity and complete disregard of facts.”
As for Sharif’s purported offer of dialogue, Akbar said dismissively, “Pakistan wants dialogue while holding a terrorist gun in its hand. Talks and guns don’t go together.”
“Our position on dialogue has been consistent. We have always been ready for a dialogue but we will not succumb to the blackmail tactics of the Government in Islamabad that seems eager to use terrorists and terrorism as policy,” Akbar said.
Meanwhile, more US lawmakers came out in sharp condemnation of the terrorist attack in Uri. They included top US Senator John McCain and Representatives Elliot Engle and Grace Meng. McCain, who heads the Senate Armed Services Committee, tweeted: “Strongly condemn recent terrorist attack on Indian Army base in Uri - deepest condolences to the victims, their families & people of India.”