In a fiery retort to Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister, Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, India took center stage on Friday, denouncing his audacious mention of Jammu and Kashmir during his address at the UN General Assembly. Kakar, in an astonishing twist of words, had declared Kashmir as the linchpin for peace between the neighboring nations.
Petal Gahlot, India’s adept First Secretary at the United Nations for the Second Committee of UNGA, lashed out, stating, “Pakistan has unapologetically become a chronic abuser of this prestigious platform, using it to perpetuate unfounded and malevolent allegations against India.”
#WATCH | First Secretary at United Nations for 2nd Committee of UNGA, Petal Gahlot says "Pakistan has become a habitual offender when it comes to misusing this August forum to peddle baseless and malicious propaganda against India. Member states of the United Nations and other… pic.twitter.com/eIyynFFa1Q
— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2023
Gahlot continued, “Member states of the United Nations and other esteemed international organizations are well cognizant of Pakistan’s perpetual misuse of this platform, often attempting to divert the global spotlight from its abhorrent human rights record. We reiterate unequivocally that the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir are an indivisible part of India. Affairs related to the UTs of J&K and Ladakh remain entirely within the purview of our nation. Pakistan holds no legitimate standing to interject in our domestic affairs,” she emphatically added.
Over the years, Pakistan has persistently sought to thrust the issue of Jammu and Kashmir onto the global stage, including at the UN. India, in turn, has consistently exposed Pakistan’s harboring of terrorism within its borders.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, addressing the issue in June earlier this year, underscored India’s stance: “Pakistan clearly stands as an anomaly within the neighborhood. The incontrovertible truth remains—we cannot normalize terrorism; we cannot allow it to serve as the foundation for dialogue with Pakistan.”
