New York (United States)

India has hit out at Pakistan after the nation’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar predictably raised the Kashmir bogey in his speech on the United Nations General Assembly. 

In its proper of reply, the First Secretary at United Nations for the Second Committee of UNGA, Petal Gahlot stated that Pakistan ought to vacate occupied areas of India and cease cross-border terrorism. She requested Pakistan to cease human rights violations towards minorities in Pakistan. 

Petal Gahlot stated, “In order for there to be peace in South Asia, the actions that Pakistan needs to take are threefold first stop cross-border terrorism and shut down its infrastructure of terrorism immediately. Second, vacate Indian territories under its illegal and forcible occupation. And third stop the grave and persistent human rights violations against the minorities in Pakistan.” 

Indian diplomat reiterated that union territories of Jammu and Kashmir in addition to Ladakh are integral elements of India and Pakistan has no “locus standi” to make statements concerning India’s home issues. 

“We reiterate that the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral part of India. Matters pertaining to the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are purely internal to India,” Petal Gahlot stated. 

“Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on our domestic matters. As a country with one of the world’s worst human rights records, particularly when it comes to minority and women’s rights, Pakistan would do well to put its own house in order before venturing to point a finger at the world’s largest democracy,” she added. 

Indian diplomat slammed Pakistan for making “baseless and malicious propaganda” towards India on the United Nations General Assembly. 

In her remarks, Gahlot stated, “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 multilateral organizations are well aware that Pakistan does so to deflect the international community’s attention away from its own abysmal record on human rights.”

Calling Pakistan house to the biggest variety of internationally proscribed terrorist entities, Gahlot urged Pakistan to take “credible and verifiable action” towards perpetrators of the 2011 Mumbai terror assault. 

“Pakistan has been the home and patron to the largest number of internationally proscribed terrorist entities and individuals in the world. Instead of engaging in technical sophistry, we call upon Pakistan to take credible and verifiable action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks whose victims await justice even after 15 years,” Petal Gahlot stated. 

Highlighting the systemic violence towards minorities in Pakistan, Petal Gahlot spoke in regards to the circumstances of Christians and Ahmadiyya communities. She spoke in regards to the Jaranwala incident the place church buildings and Christian homes have been burnt down. 

“A glaring example of the systemic violence against minorities in Pakistan was the large-scale brutality perpetrated against the minority Christian community in Jaranwala in Pakistan’s Faisalabad district in August 2023 where a total of 19 churches were gutted and 89 Christian houses were burnt down,” the Indian diplomat stated. 

She additional stated, “Similar treatment has been meted out to the Ahmadiyya whose places of worship have been demolished. The condition of women belonging to minority communities in Pakistan notably Hindus, Sikhs and Christians, remains deplorable.” 

She made reference to a report revealed by Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission which revealed that 1000 girls from minority communities have been subjected to abduction and compelled conversion and marriage. 

“According to a recent report published by Pakistan’s own Human Rights Commission, an estimated 1,000 women from minority communities are subjected to abduction and forced conversion and marriage in Pakistan every year,” Petal Gahlot stated. 

Pakistan caretaker PM Kakar’s remarks got here throughout his deal with to the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York at this time. He stated, “Pakistan desires peaceful and productive relations with all our neighbours including India,” and added that “Kashmir is the key to peace between Pakistan and India.”

India has repeatedly raised its concern over Pakistan’s help of cross-border terrorism and has asserted that terror and talks can’t go collectively. India has additionally offered proof at numerous worldwide boards of Pakistan’s help for Terrorist teams. Pakistan’s caretaker PM nonetheless harped on what he known as the unlawful occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.