MJ Akbar lambasts Nawaz Sharif’s speech at UN as ‘rising immaturity’

“Threat bluster”, Pak run by a “war machine”, says Akbar.  

NEW YORK: India’s Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar has lambasted the Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly, on Wednesday, saying it was replete with non-factual statements, “threat bluster” and that Pakistan is being run by a “war machine than a government.”

Akbar also pointed out that Sharif by ‘glorifying’ Kashmiri terrorist Burhan Wani, who was killed by Indian armed forces, has indulged in “self-incrimination.”

Sharif, in his 20-minute speech, which was heavily laden with talk on Kashmir, had said: “Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces has emerged as a symbol of latest Kashmiri ‘intifada’.” He added that Pakistan “fully supports Kashmir’s right to self-determination”.

Akbar’s point, made at a press conference at the Indian Permanent Mission to the United Nations, here, pointed to the fact that Wani was supported and abetted by Pakistan, with an aim to disturb the peace and law and order situation in Kashmir.

“We just heard a speech full of threat bluster and rising immaturity and complete disregard of facts,” Akbar said, without mincing any words, in response to Sharif’s speech.

Akbar said “India will not succumb to blackmail tactics of the Pakistan Government that seems eager to use terrorism as policy”.

“We heard the glorification of a terrorist. Wani is declared commander of Hizbul, widely acknowledged as a terror group. It is shocking that a leader of a nation can glorify a self-advertised terrorist at such a forum. This is self-incrimination by Pakistan PM,” Akbar said.

Rejecting Sharif’s offer to India to enter into a serious and sustained dialogue for the peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes, the minister said, “Talks and guns don’t go together”.

“Pakistan at this moment seems to be run by a war machine rather than a government. Pakistan wants dialogue while holding a terrorist gun in its hand,” he said.

Akbar also rejected Sharif’s allegations against India with regard to the current unrest in Kashmir.

“Kashmir occupation is by Pakistan occupation army. The world also knows that Pakistan has been indulged in ethnic cleansing of its own people,” he said.

Sharif in his speech had said: “We demand the immediate release of all Kashmiri political prisoners; an end to the curfew; freedom for the Kashmiris to demonstrate peacefully; urgent medical help for the injured; abrogation of India’s draconian ‘laws’; and removal of the foreign travel ban on Kashmiri leaders.”