New York/New Delhi, Sep 27 (UNI) India today hammered Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharief’s address at the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly describing it as ‘’absurd theatrics’’ and ‘’bizarre’’ and said a country long steeped in the tradition of deploying and exporting terrorism has no shame in advancing the most ludicrous narratives.
Exercising its right of reply at the UNGA Ms Petal Gahlot, First Secretary, said no degree of drama and no level of lies can conceal facts.
She said India is making it clear that there will be no distinction between terrorists and their sponsors. Both will be held accountable. Nor will India allow terrorism to be practised under the cover of nuclear blackmail.
‘’India will never bow to such threats. India’s message to the world is clear, there must be zero-tolerance for terrorism,” she said while calling upon the world to have ‘’zero tolerance’’ against terrorism.
This is the very same Pakistan which, at the UN Security Council on April 25 shielded ‘The Resistance Front’, a Pakistani sponsored terror outfit, from the responsibility of carrying out the barbaric massacre of tourists in Jammu and Kashmir.
‘’This Assembly witnessed absurd theatrics in the morning from the Prime Minister of Pakistan, who once again glorified terrorism that is so central to their foreign policy,’’ Ms Gahlot said.
She said a country long steeped in the tradition of deploying and exporting terrorism has ‘’no shame in advancing the most ludicrous narratives to that end.’’
‘’Let us recall that it sheltered Osama bin Laden for a decade, even while pretending to partner in the war against terrorism,’’ she said.
Without naming Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif for his admission that Pakistan has been supporting and promoting terrorism for decades, Ms Gahlot said Its (Pakistan’s) Ministers have just recently acknowledged that they have been operating terrorist camps for decades.
‘’It should come as no surprise that once again, this duplicity continues, this time at the level of its Prime Minister,’’ Ms Gahlot said.
‘’A picture speaks a thousand words and we saw many pictures of terrorists slain in Bahawalpur and Muridke terror complexes by Indian forces during Operation Sindoor. When senior Pakistani military and civilian officials publicly glorify and pay homage to such notorious terrorists, can there be any doubt about the proclivities of this regime?’’
She said the Pakistan Prime Minister also advanced a ‘’bizarre account’’ of the recent conflict with India. The record on this matter is clear. Till 9 May, Pakistan was threatening more attacks on India. But on May 10, its military ‘’pleaded with us directly’’ for cessation to the fighting.
She was referring to the request by Pakistan DGMO to Indian DGMO for ceasefire.
She said the intervening event was the destruction caused to multiple Pakistani airbases by Indian forces. The pictures of that damage are, of course, publicly accessible. If destroyed runways and burnt-out hangers look like victory, as the Prime Minister claimed, Pakistan is welcome to enjoy it.
Ms Gahlot said the truth is that as in the past, Pakistan is responsible for a terrorist attack on innocent civilians in India.
‘’We have exercised the right to defend our people against such actions and have brought the organizers and perpetrators to justice.’’
Referring to the Pakistan Prime Minister’s request for peace with India she said that If he is indeed sincere, the pathway is clear. Pakistan must immediately shut down all terrorist camps and handover terrorists wanted in India.
Ms Gahlot said It is ironic that a country which wallows in hate, bigotry and intolerance should preach to this Assembly on matters of faith.
The political and public discourse of Pakistan reflects its true nature. Clearly, a look by them at the mirror is long overdue.
Rejecting outright once again any third party mediation between India and Pakistan, Ms Gahlot said India and Pakistan have long agreed that any outstanding issue between them will be addressed bilaterally.
‘’There is no room for any third party in that regard. This is our longstanding national position,’’ the Indian official asserted.
