By Somya Panwar
India had a powerful and uncompromising reaction to the speech by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the United Nations General Assembly, rejecting his assertions as “absurd theatrics” and asserting that no rhetoric can conceal the facts.
Exercising India’s right of reply, First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Petal Gahlot, informed that Prime Minister Sharif glorified terrorism once again, and terrorism remains at the core of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
Referring to Pakistan’s dismal record, Ms. Gahlot noted Islamabad’s role in the Pahalgam attack and remembered that this year earlier, at the UN Security Council, Pakistan defended the resistance front, a terror group it financially supports from blame for the brutal killing of tourists in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Pakistani Prime Minister has talked of wishing for peace with India,” Ms. Gahlot said. “If he is genuine, the way lies clear: Pakistan should close down all terrorist camps at once and surrender to India the terrorists it is harbouring.”
She pointed out the irony of a nation immersed in hate, intolerance, and bigotry trying to preach to the Assembly on issues of religion. Ms. Gahlot further reminded the world of the vivid imagery of Indian actions in Bahawalpur and Muridke where terrorists were eliminated in Operation Sindoor.
Emphasizing Pakistan’s complicity, she referred to top Pakistani military and civilian authorities openly glorifying known terrorists. Ms. Gahlot characterized the Pakistani Prime Minister’s testimony regarding the recent war with India as “bizarre,” adding that there is stark evidence: up to 9 May, Pakistan was threatening attacks, but by 10 May, its army requested an end to hostilities after the Indian military struck several Pakistani air bases. Damaged runways and torched hangars might be a triumph for Pakistan, but facts are plain, she stated.
Bringing to mind Pakistan’s long history of providing sanctuary for terrorists, Ms. Gahlot restated India’s strong message: there will be no difference between the terrorists and their supporters, and terrorism behind the mask of nuclear blackmail will never be accepted. “India’s message to the world is unambiguous: zero tolerance for terrorism,” she stated.
Ms. Gahlot reiterated India’s consistent stand that all outstanding issues with Pakistan have to be addressed bilaterally and in a manner free from any third-party intervention. She ended by stating that Pakistan is still responsible for acts of terrorism against innocent civilians in India, and India will continue to assert its right to protect its citizens.